Dental Crowns - Fort Worth, TX

Dental Crowns

A dental crown, sometimes referred to as a cap, is a restoration that fits over the top of damaged teeth in order to replace dental structure lost to decay, trauma, or wear. Custom crafted to renew optimal oral health, dental crowns allow our team to preserve dental structure while repairing form and function. We believe in conservative treatment, which means we select services that preserve the maximum amount of healthy tissue while fully repairing the damage. We only recommend dental crown restoration if more conservative solutions would be ineffective.

Traditionally, dental crowns were crafted from gold or porcelain coated metal. Gold crowns offer the most durable solution with the least amount of wear to opposing teeth. Porcelain bonded to metal restorations offer improved appearance, but they wear away the enamel on opposing teeth more quickly. Additionally, as the porcelain wears away over time, the dark-colored metal is revealed below. To avoid these disadvantages, our team uses all-ceramic dental crowns. This high-quality restorative material provides optimal durability and flawless cosmetic appearance. Even as ceramic is worn away over time, these crowns retain their natural appearance, blending seamlessly into smiles.

The Dental Crown Restoration Process

Patients in need of restoration with a dental crown should plan to visit our dental office at least two times. The entire process may take anywhere from a few weeks to a month. During the initial preparation appointment, we remove a small amount of healthy dental structure to accommodate the crown placement. In some cases, we may need to perform a crown lengthening procedure to remove a small amount of gum tissue, exposing enough dental structure to support the crown. Next, we capture impressions of the prepared tooth that are used by our dental lab to craft the restoration, and we place a temporary crown to protect the tooth until the final restoration is completed. When we receive the custom crown, the patient returns to our dental office to exchange their temporary for the final dental crown.

Reasons for Dental Crown Restoration

Patients may need dental crown restoration in a number of situations including:

• To restore severe decay or damage that cannot be repaired with more conservative services.
• To conceal significant cosmetic flaws.
• To protect the treated tooth following root canal therapy.
• To attach to a dental implant and replace a single missing tooth.
• To support a fixed bridge by attaching to healthy teeth, replacing one to three consecutive missing teeth.