How Are Dental Crowns Made? A Peek Behind the Scenes
A dental crown is like a mini-masterpiece crafted just for your tooth. These tiny wonders are more than just protective
Dental Crowns and Bridges
Broken and missing teeth affect your appearance, confidence, and ability to chew comfortably. Ask us about our high-quality crowns and bridges!
At Causeway Dentistry in Clearwater, FL, Dr. Earl Santos is pleased to offer high-quality custom dental crowns and bridges to restore broken and missing teeth. We craft these tooth restorations for your unique smile using the most natural-looking and durable materials available today.
Dr. Santos usually recommends a dental crown when a tooth is too damaged to repair with a filling. Crowns are tooth-shaped shells of ceramic that cover an entire tooth to shield it from further damage and provide a new chewing surface. A crown gives a tooth a second chance because it allows you to chew comfortably and smile confidently again.
All our crowns are made using zirconia, one of the most durable dental materials available today. When Dr. Santos custom-shades the crown to match surrounding teeth, it will blend seamlessly with your smile.
Your dental crown in Clearwater is most likely made from ceramic porcelain or possibly zirconia, both strong and dense materials. While these make for excellent dental restorations, they also may be damaged by accidents or misuse. If you have a damaged tooth crown, we may be able to use composite resin to repair certain types of damage.
Typical types of damage we can repair are:
However, if your crown has more extensive cracking or fracturing, it will likely be too fragile to remain intact. In this case, we will likely recommend that you replace your dental crown to ensure your tooth is protected against your chewing force.
Dental crowns in Clearwater require cleaning just like your natural teeth. We recommend you brush twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, and clean between your crown and other teeth with floss or another device like a water flosser or dental pick.
At Causeway Dentistry, we suggest you avoid undue wear and tear, such as chewing ice, biting hard candies, or overeating sticky foods that might dislodge your crown. We also discourage you from ever using your teeth to hold items or loosen knots.
Dental crowns in Clearwater, FL, are a versatile tooth restoration that our dentist might recommend when a damaged tooth needs a complete cover as opposed to a tooth-colored filling or partial restoration like a dental veneer.
Because your porcelain crown is custom-made to mimic your natural tooth, we usually perform the procedure over two visits spaced about two weeks apart. At your first visit, Dr. Santos adjusts your tooth shape to make a secure foundation so that the final crown fits comfortably. Next, we create an impression of the prepared tooth and place a temporary crown to protect it until your final crown is ready.
For your return appointment, Dr. Santos ensures a tight fit between your final crown and your remaining tooth. He then cements your crown and makes any adjustments it may need so that your bite is aligned.
We may decide a dental crown in Clearwater is the best choice for you in the following situations:
Please call our Clearwater, FL, dental office to schedule an appointment if you think you might need a dental crown.
A dental crown is a custom-crafted shell, typically made from porcelain (other materials, like porcelain-fused-to-metal and zirconia, are also available) that covers a damaged or decayed tooth or sits atop a dental implant as a replacement tooth. Dental crowns provide structural support and a reinforced chewing surface.
In cases of severe damage where the original tooth can be saved, its decay is removed, the remainder is reshaped, and a custom-sized and natural-looking crown is fitted over it. This provides comfortable and natural-looking protection from further damage.
Also, when a natural tooth must be extracted, and the natural tooth root is replaced with a dental implant, a crown is fixed to a small, typically titanium peg, or “abutment,” to restore proper biting and chewing function.
Dental crowns in Clearwater enhance the appearance and function of a person’s smile, facial structure, and bite function in several ways. Here are a few:
If you’re in Clearwater and want to learn more about the many benefits of dental crowns and whether they’re a suitable solution for you, contact Dr. Earl Santos and the friendly and knowledgeable Causeway Dental team to schedule a consultation!
A chipped tooth can be upsetting, but a small chip is typically not a dental emergency unless it’s causing you pain. However, your dentist in Clearwater, FL, recommends keeping the tooth clean until your dental appointment. And you should avoid chewing with that tooth until you’ve seen the dentist.
Some tooth chips are superficial but can worsen over time, inviting infection and further breakage. So, we do recommend seeing the dentist, even if the chip is on a back tooth.
Tooth chips can result from biting into hard or jagged objects or food, bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), or sudden injury. We can treat the issue and restore your tooth no matter the reason.
For small chips, your dentist in Clearwater may recommend dental bonding. This is a spreadable material that can fill in chips. It is tooth-colored, non-invasive, and inexpensive. For significant chips or tooth fractures, your dentist will likely recommend a dental crown. This tooth-shaped cover fits over the chipped tooth to the gum, restoring bite and beauty!
If you have a chipped tooth, contact our dental office to schedule a visit with the dentist. If you have tooth pain or swelling, it’s crucial to contact us as soon as possible for an emergency dental appointment.
Crowns are a versatile restoration that our dentist might recommend in the following situations.
Please call our Clearwater, FL dental office to schedule an appointment if you think you might need a dental crown.
Getting a dental crown is usually done over two visits spaced about two weeks apart. At the first appointment, Dr. Santos reshapes your tooth so that the crown fits comfortably and blends naturally with surrounding teeth. Next, he takes impressions of the prepared tooth that we use to create a temporary crown to protect it until your final crown is ready.
When you return to our office in about two weeks, Dr. Santos will test the crown on your tooth for fit. He will ensure that it feels natural and you can bite down comfortably. The final step is to polish the crown and secure it with long-lasting dental cement.
Dr. Earl Santos was born in Tacloban City, Philippines, and grew up in northeast Pennsylvania. His career in Florida began when he graduated from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) School of Dental Medicine ..
It is best for your oral health, comfort, and confidence to replace missing teeth as soon as possible. When you lose a tooth, other teeth have to work harder, and neighboring teeth can start to tilt into the gap in your smile and lead to tooth misalignment, dental wear, and TMJ problems.
A dental bridge is a perfect solution because it fills the space left by a missing tooth and restores lost chewing function. Bridges consist of an artificial tooth with a dental crown on either side. The artificial tooth sits in the gap and is secured to adjacent teeth with the crowns to complete your smile.
If you have broken or missing teeth, our natural-looking custom crowns and bridges can help you eat, speak, and smile with confidence again.
Please call our Clearwater, FL dental office to arrange an appointment to see how we can help!
A dental crown is like a mini-masterpiece crafted just for your tooth. These tiny wonders are more than just protective
Making an investment in your smile is a big decision, and whether you’re restoring or replacing a tooth, you’ll want
