Dental crowns are primarily used to restore damaged teeth. However, they’re also sometimes used in cosmetic dentistry when treatments like veneers and dental bonding are not suitable for improving your smile.
First, you’ll come to Charles Kim Dentistry so that Dr. Kim can examine your mouth and determine if a crown is right for your unique situation.
At your next appointment, Dr. Kim will clean and numb your mouth. Then, he will remove any damaged enamel from your tooth. This creates a strong platform for your crown.
Once your tooth has been trimmed, Dr. Kim will take impressions and images of the tooth. These are sent to a dental lab where your permanent crown will be made. This takes a few weeks, so you will be sent home with a temporary crown.
After the lab has made your crown and sent it to our office, you’ll come in for a final appointment. Dr. Kim will remove your temporary crown and check the fit. If everything looks right, he will attach the crown to your tooth permanently with dental cement. Then, you’ll be sent home to enjoy your new smile.
Not at all. Dr. Kim only has to trim the outside of your tooth, and we will numb your mouth to ensure you don’t feel any discomfort. Though it involves the removal of more tooth enamel, the process is actually quite similar to preparing your tooth for a filling.
Dental crowns usually last somewhere between 10-20 years with proper care, and can easily last longer than this. The most common cause of premature crown failure is tooth decay. If the natural tooth under the crown starts to decay, this can loosen the crown.
To prevent this, make sure you take great care of your teeth. Brush twice a day, floss daily, and eat a healthy diet. You also should see Dr. Kim for a teeth cleaning every six months. During your cleaning, he will check your crowns and natural teeth to make sure they’re healthy and free of decay.
About 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth and nearly 40 million Americans have lost all their teeth.
A dental implant is made of two parts: a small, screw-shaped piece of titanium called the post, and the restoration, which is usually a dental crown and abutment. Posts are manufactured in a variety of pre-selected sizes to ensure each patient gets the right implant for their needs. In contrast, the restoration is completely custom-made. After your dentist places your dental implant, they will take impressions of your teeth and send them to a dental lab.
There, a technician will create a long-lasting, durable dental implant restoration out of porcelain or another high-quality material. This restoration will be sent back to our office, and it will be attached to your dental implant, completing your implant procedure.
Dental implants typically last up to 30 years or more with proper placement and care. In fact, it’s very common for patients to keep their implants for the rest of their lives.
However, the dental implant restoration, such as a dental crown or set of overdentures, usually will not last this long. Your restoration is exposed to regular wear and tear from chewing, biting, and more, and may need to be replaced a few times over the years.
It is possible for dental implants to become infected. This is known as “peri-implantitis.” However, this is a very rare complication, and it typically only occurs if the implant is not cared for and kept clean after surgery.
You can avoid peri-implantitis by following your dentist’s instructions while recovering, and by brushing and flossing regularly after your implant has healed.
Yes. Bone loss occurs when your jaw bone is no longer stimulated by the natural pressure of chewing and biting. Your tooth transmits this force through the root and into your jaw bone, which keeps your jaw bone healthy.
When you lose a tooth, this process stops, and the jaw bone tends to weaken. Since the post of the dental implant is placed directly into the jaw bone and acts as a tooth root, it restimulates your jaw bone by transmitting the force of chewing and biting once again.
Some types of dental implant systems can be done in one day. The restoration is usually temporary until you have fully healed from your dental implant placement surgery. This solution allows you to speak and eat normally, however, the restoration is temporary.
As your mouth heals, you’ll attend appointments at your doctor’s office where impressions will be taken. These impressions will guide the manufacturing of your restoration. This permanent restoration will be a more durable, long-lasting, and natural-looking prosthetic than your temporaries.
Dental implants are the only restorative option that preserves and stimulates your natural bone structure.
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