Dental crowns offer an ideal, appealing solution for anyone with a chipped, cracked, worn, discolored, or otherwise unattractive tooth. The cosmetic treatment consists of a manufactured cap that goes atop your existing tooth. A crown can also be used to hold a dental bridge together or cover a dental implant or tooth that has been treated with a root canal.
That said, every dental crown has a finite lifespan, and most people will need to get theirs replaced at some point — but when?
Expertly placed dental crowns are just one of the services Dr. Alistair Saeghi compassionately provides at Modern Age Dentistry. From routine care to cosmetic and emergency procedures, you’re under the best care at Modern Age Dentistry’s offices in Los Angeles, Ojai, and West Hills, California.
We noted the many problems that a dental crown can conceal. Dr. Saeghi tends to favor ceramic over other materials for crowns, since it’s so natural-looking and durable. Ceramic crowns also cause no reactions in people with metal allergies.
Better still, since a crown is fitted precisely to your teeth, we can often produce and fit your crown in a single visit — a real benefit when you’re busy. If you do need more than one visit, Dr. Saeghi places a temporary crown in your mouth.
If you opt for a crown to address any of the issues we’ve discussed, Dr. Saeghi will want to make certain that there’s no decay brewing in the tooth to be covered, so his first evaluative step is to take X-rays.
If you’re good to go, Dr. Saeghi applies a local anesthetic to numb your tooth and the gum surrounding it, to prepare for filing the tooth down a bit so it can accommodate the crown. If you’re getting a crown placed over a badly decayed tooth or a gap, he does the opposite, adding volume to the tooth by filling it so it can hold the crown.
The next step is taking an impression of the tooth that has been worked on and will be covered with the crown, as well as the tooth above or below it. These impressions are used to make your crown.
With placement, Dr. Saeghi is exacting in making sure your crown fits perfectly before cementing it into place.
Fortunately, you can watch for some signs and keep a time frame in mind when it comes to knowing the right time to replace your dental crown:
The good news is that when cared for properly — with regular brushing, flossing, and use of an antibacterial mouthwash — there’s no reason your crown can’t last well beyond 15 years.
It’s also best to avoid extremely hard, crunchy and chewy foods, and if you or Dr. Saeghi notices any signs of tooth grinding, address them. Sometimes sleeping with a mouth guard is all that’s needed to solve the problem and halt crown damage.
Additionally, if you notice any issues or discomfort, make an appointment to come see us and have it checked out.
If you do end up needing a replacement, Dr. Saeghi will take care of it comfortably, promptly, and efficiently.
Call the Modern Age Dentistry office that’s most convenient to you and learn more about how crowns could benefit you. You can also book an appointment with us online.
