Washington, DC Cosmetic Dentistry

Frequently Asked Questions About Crowns

1. Who is a candidate for crowns?
Grinding your teeth, a misaligned bite, age, large fillings and tooth decay all cause teeth to wear, crack or break. Chewing patterns can lead to stress on the structure of a tooth, causing cracks or breakage.

In other cases, crowns replace missing teeth. These crowns are anchored to the teeth on either side, with a "bridge" section connecting the two crowns. Instead of bridges, single tooth dental implants may be used, eliminating the need for supporting crowns.

When the tooth structure is compromised by one or all of these factors, the dentist prescribes a crown to preserve and protect the remaining shell.

The crown covers the entire visible surface of the tooth, making it strong, durable and stable. The crown actually becomes the tooth's new outer surface.

2. How are crowns made?
The dentist makes an "impression" of the tooth needing the crown. The impression is sent to the dental laboratory where the crown is made.

3. What will I look like the day the crown is ordered?

Patients usually leave the office with a temporary crown to wear while the permanent crown is being made. The crown is ready in about one to two weeks.

4. What happens to the remaining tooth structure that will be covered by the crown?

Usually, the dentist reshapes the remaining tooth structure to prepare it for the crown being placed. The structure receives a special "filling," to stabilize the tooth due to the loss of tooth structure.

5. How is the crown attached to the tooth?

When the permanent crown is ready, it is cemented to the tooth with special, long-lasting cement.

6. How long does a crown last?

Crowns usually last about ten to 15 years.

7. Are there different types of crowns for different places in the mouth?

There are basically three types of crowns:

Porcelain crowns -A new generation of high-grade porcelain material-used mostly in the front of the mouth-creates the most beautiful appearance.
These crowns perfectly mimic the luster, shine and translucence of natural teeth. Without the need for a metal base, the crown fits seamlessly under the gum line-looking like it grew there by itself. And there is no longer a tell-tale dark shadow that over time shows up under the gum around the crown.
Gold crowns -Gold crowns are often the option of choice for the back molars, where the strong forces of grinding and chewing place a lot of stress on teeth. And the gold crown never chips.
Porcelain-covered gold crowns -These crowns are used in places where the crown is visible and when durable crowns are needed. However, growing improvements in porcelain are leading to higher use of all porcelain crowns in more areas of the mouth.

8. How do you choose a color for crowns?

When it's time to choose a color for a crown, many patients first decide to lighten their natural teeth to a brighter color. The dentist then matches the crown to that new color.

Teeth are not all the same color, so usually more than one color is used to create a natural look. A variety of colors help avoid artificial looking teeth. The internal contrast of colors helps create a look of youth and vitality. The internal play of light on the porcelain in the restoration under the crown helps to create vitality. Surface texture on the crown also helps-breaking up light reflections and making the crown look more natural.

Not all of our teeth are the same natural color. Usually, the "eye" teeth tend to be darker, the front teeth are the whitest and molars tend to be a shade between the two. The goal is always to achieve optimal whiteness while still looking natural.

Keep in mind, for a good cosmetic dentist a standard shade guide that offers a range of color options-is merely a starting point. An experienced dentist also considers complexion, hair color, face structure, height, body type-even eye color!

A dentist will not likely place narrow, long teeth when a patient is long, tall and thin.

If you are considering porcelain crowns contact our cosmetic dentists in the Washington, DC area, please call or e-mail us today to schedule your initial consultation.

Washington Center for Dentistry
1430 K Street NW, Eighth Floor
Washington D.C., 20005
(202) 223-6630

Disclaimer: The Washington Center for Porcelain Crown Dentistry services patients in Washington, DC (District of Columbia) and Northern Virginia. This site only provides information about dental and cosmetic dental procedures including One-Hour Whitening, Porcelain Veneers, Porcelain Crowns, Drill-Free, White Fillings, Bonding, Cerec III, Same Day Crowns and Veneers, Gum Reshaping, Invisalign and Dental Implants. It is not meant to be taken as advice.

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