Restorative dentistry is a fantastic way to give your teeth a second chance and return to looking and feeling your best. Ledbetter Family Dental Care’s Ardmore, Oklahoma treatments include dental crowns, fillings, bridges, implants, and partial dentures — all of which can restore function and health to teeth damaged by decay or trauma. Plus, with modern technological advances, the treatments are quicker and more comfortable than ever! No matter what kind of restoration you may need for your smile, rest assured that we are trained and experienced in providing that care.
If you need a dental crown, you may have questions about what it is, why you may need one, and how it works. You should know that at Ledbetter Family Dental Care, we are committed to ensuring our patients understand their treatment plans and make informed decisions about their oral health. That’s why we want to provide this comprehensive guide on dental crowns. Let’s work together to bring your smile back to its full glory.
What Are Dental Crowns?
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” placed over a tooth to restore its shape, strength, size, or appearance. Essentially, a crown fits over the visible portion of your tooth above the gum line. We can also use it to protect weak teeth from breaking and even to hold parts of a cracked tooth together.
Dental crowns are made of various materials such as porcelain or ceramic for natural-looking results, gold alloy for durability and improved bite force absorption, or metal alloy for an affordable option with good strength. Depending on your needs, our team will work with you to find the best material for your situation.
When Are Dental Crowns Needed?
Dental crowns are necessary when teeth are damaged due to injury or decay beyond what we can treat with fillings or other restorative treatments like bridges and inlays/onlays. We can also use them after root canal treatments to strengthen weakened teeth. And we can use dental crowns to top dental implants, which are artificial tooth roots.
How Does Getting a Dental Crown Work?
Dr. Les Ledbetter and his team will begin the process by ensuring you are comfortable and we have answered all your questions. When ready, we can administer local anesthesia to numb the area and make you more comfortable.
The process begins with preparing the existing tooth by removing or reshaping any decayed areas to accommodate the new restoration. We may shave or file down the top of your tooth to make room for the dental crown.
After receiving your custom-made restoration from our lab, we will check its fit and make any adjustments before permanently cementing it onto your prepared tooth using specialized bonding agents designed specifically for porcelain restorations. Then our team will take an impression that will serve as the blueprint for creating your custom-made dental crown. It typically takes two to three weeks, depending on what material we use and if any special requests were made regarding its color and design (if applicable).
What is the Recovery Process Like?
After you receive your new dental crown, we can provide instructions to help you care for it. With proper care and attention, your new crown should last up to 15 years or even longer! You must avoid hard foods like nuts and candies, which can cause the crown to chip or crack. It would also be best to refrain from biting on objects like pens or rulers, as this can strain the crown. Practice thorough oral hygiene by brushing twice and flossing at least once daily. These small habits will ensure the success of your new crown! If there’s ever any confusion or questions about aftercare instructions, please get in touch with our office; we are always here to help!
Dental Crowns in Oklahoma
At Ledbetter Family Dental Care, we understand how important healthy teeth are both aesthetically and mechanically when chewing food properly without discomfort since they support each other hand in hand. Still, more importantly, we understand how important having healthy teeth make us feel confident smiling broadly towards life’s challenges! So if you need more information about dental crowns, don’t hesitate to contact us today and book a consultation with Dr. Les Ledbetter. Our friendly staff would love to help answer your dental crowns questions!