Revitalize Your Smile with Durable and Natural-Looking Dental Crowns
Are tooth imperfections stopping you from showing off your smile? Our experienced San Diego dentist, Dr. Vaheed Bayette offers dental crowns to fully restore and enhance your smile. Dental crowns are a standard restorative dentistry option for patients seeking a permanent solution for decayed, chipped, or cracked teeth. Dr. Bayette is proud to improve the oral health of California patients in Chula Vista, Bay Park, Mission Valley, and the surrounding areas.
What Are Dental Crowns?
A dental crown is a type of dental restoration designed to cover and protect a damaged or decayed tooth. The crown helps to restore the tooth’s function and appearance, making it a popular option for people who want to improve the look of their smile.
Types of Dental Crowns
Our San Diego dentist offers two types of dental crowns, all-porcelain crowns and metal-fused crowns.
All-Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain crowns are known for their lifelike appearance, durability, and ability to blend in with natural teeth, making them a popular choice for restoring front teeth. They’re made by fusing a layer of porcelain to a metal substrate, or by using an all-ceramic material. They’re also resistant to staining, which helps them maintain their natural appearance over time.
Metal crowns
Metal crowns are made from a variety of metals, including gold, platinum, and base metal alloys. These crowns are durable and long-lasting but can be visible in the mouth due to their metallic appearance. They’re also less likely to chip or break than all-porcelain crowns.
What are the Benefits of Crowns?
Dental crowns offer several benefits, including:
- Strengthening weak or damaged teeth: If a tooth is cracked, broken, or decayed, a crown can help to protect it from further damage and restore its strength.
- Improving the appearance of teeth: Crowns can be made to match the color and shape of your natural teeth, so they look like a seamless part of your smile.
- Restoring the function of teeth: Crowns can help to restore the ability to bite and chew normally, making it easier to eat the foods you love.
- Protecting root canal-treated teeth: After a root canal procedure, a crown is often placed over the treated tooth to protect it from breaking.
Who is a Candidate for Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are a good option for people who have:
- Extensive tooth decay or damage
- Weak or broken teeth
- Root canal-treated teeth
- Large fillings in need of replacement
- Misshapen or abnormally sized teeth
Dr. Bayette will be able to advise you if dental crowns are a suitable option for your specific dental needs.
How the Procedure Works
The process of getting a dental crown involves two or three visits to the dentist. During your first visit to our San Diego office, Dr. Bayette will examine your tooth and take impressions, X-rays, and photographs to help plan your treatment.
At your second visit, Dr. Bayette will prepare the tooth by removing any damaged or decayed tissue and shaping the tooth to accommodate the crown. He will then take another impression of your tooth to use as a model for the crown.
Finally, at your third visit, your dentist will place the permanent crown onto your prepared tooth and check it fits and functions properly. Finally, he’ll bond the crown in place using dental cement.
Frequently Asked Questions
The preparation of the tooth for a crown can be uncomfortable, and some people may experience sensitivity or pain during this process. However, the dentist will usually numb the area with local anesthesia to minimize discomfort. If you’re feeling anxious about getting a dental crown, talk to your dentist about your concerns and any options for sedation or pain management that may be available.
It’s important to note dental insurance may cover some or all of the cost of dental crowns, depending on your specific plan and the reason for the crown. Many dental insurance plans will cover the cost of crowns if they are needed due to a medical condition or injury, while others may cover a portion of the cost for cosmetic reasons.
The lifespan of a dental crown can vary depending on several factors, including the type of material used for the crown, the location of the crown in the mouth, and how well the crown is cared for. On average, dental crowns can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years. It’s important to note that even with proper care, dental crowns may eventually need to be replaced due to wear and tear decay, or other factors.
Schedule an Appointment With Dr. Bayette
Dental crowns can help restore the strength, function, and appearance of your damaged or decaying teeth. Our San Diego dentist is dedicated to providing high-quality dental care and using the latest technology to create natural-looking, custom-fitted crowns. Don’t let dental problems hold you back any longer, schedule a consultation with us today by giving us a call at (619) 901-0708 or by filling out our online contact form. Let us help you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile!