If you have a damaged, discolored, or misaligned tooth, a dental crown might be the answer for you. Dental crowns are caps placed on teeth that were once damaged to complete restoration. At Dentistry of Highland Village, both Dr. Karla Apodaca and her team routinely fit teeth with dental crowns right from our Houston, Texas office. If you need a dental crown procedure done, call or use the online booking tool today and set up an appointment.

Dental Crown Q & A

What are dental crowns?

Dental crowns are porcelain or ceramic caps that are cemented on top of teeth that were once damaged or decayed. They are part of the restoration process to make your teeth go back to their former luster. Crowns are “fake” teeth that are cemented onto what is left of your natural tooth to give your teeth that natural look they once possessed. The team at Dentistry of Highland Village may recommend a dental crown for a variety of reasons, including:

• Protecting a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment
• Replacing a filling if there isn’t enough of your natural tooth remaining
• Restoring a fractured tooth
• Attaching a bridge and helping hold it in place
• Covering a dental implant
• Improving the appearance discolored or poorly shaped teeth

How do dental crowns work?

If the team at Dentistry of Highland Village decides that you need a dental crown to restore or strengthen a damaged tooth, they’ll first they take an impression of your affected tooth after an old filling or decay is removed. This allows us to send the impression to an outside dental lab to custom make your porcelain or ceramic crown just for you. They are made to match your exact specifications of your teeth.

The procedure to place a crown on a tooth is simple and involves bonding the fake tooth with cement or another type of strong adhesive. It’s not painful, but your dentist may use a small amount of a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area.

Getting a dental crown usually requires two visits to the Houston office: the first is to take an impression of your tooth and the second for the actual fitting of your crown.

How long do dental crowns last?

If properly cared for, dental crowns can last for decades or a lifetime! The main key to making sure your dental crown lasts as long as it should is practicing good oral hygiene. You need to take excellent care of your teeth and gums by brushing and flossing regularly. This will ensure that your natural teeth remain healthy and your crown lasts forever. The team at Dentistry of Highland Village can help you make adjustments and perfect your brushing and flossing technique during an in-office visits to make sure your teeth and any restorations last as long as possible.

Another way to help maintain your dental crown is to limit or avoid chewing on hard food items regularly as this can damage not only your crown, but your natural teeth. If you need a dental crown or need to schedule an exam to get one placed, call or use the online booking tool today and set up an appointment!