Most dentistry looks like dentistry. Our goal is to provide dentistry that is undetectable. We replace existing crowns and fillings with restorations that look and feel like your natural teeth.
Where damage to a person’s teeth is extreme, and apparently beyond repair, we can use porcelain or porcelain “pasted on gold” crowns to make the smile appear “as new”. This is an extremely reliable technique for repairing the most severe of dental problems, even permanently replacing missing teeth to offer a complete smile and a functional bite. We are renowned for the quality of our work and the fantastic changes we make for people using this technology. These treatments are used for a long-lasting correction of major dental problems. It is usual for these treatments to last for 20 to 30 years, which is as close to permanent as dental treatment can get.
How long does it take to fit a dental crown?
Fitting a crown requires at least two visits to our office. Initially, we will remove decay, shape the tooth, and fit it with a temporary crown of either plastic or metal.
On the subsequent visit we will remove the temporary crown, and then fit and adjust the final crown. Finally, we will cement the crown into place and you have a new beautiful looking tooth.
Key Benefits of Dental Crowns
- Replaces missing teeth
- Offers support to misshapen teeth or badly broken teeth
- Looks completely natural
- Fixes “smile” and functional chewing problems
What are the capabilities of crowns?
CROWN and bridgework is a very reliable solution for major dental problems caused through accidents, diseases or wear and tear. Major problems can usually be corrected using these techniques. Material used in these repairs is either high-grade porcelain, or porcelain bonded to gold. A higher strength of the porcelain and gold materials is recommended to treat the most serious of dental problems. Where accidental damage has occurred, resulting in lost teeth, or where teeth have broken away through excessive wear, or as the result of old fillings breaking, crowns and/or bridges can be used as a long-term solution.
Many people have unexplained pain from filled back teeth, which is usually due to hairline cracks in the chewing part of the tooth. Placing crowns on these teeth relieves the pain and allows a return of full dental function for these teeth. In front teeth, older fillings can both weaken the teeth and cause “appearance” problems due to staining or chipping. Porcelain crowns and bridges are suitable in cases where porcelain veneers are not. In teeth with root canal fillings, crowns can prevent breakage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a crown, or will a filling do?
It comes down to how much healthy tooth is left. A filling replaces a small amount of missing structure and relies on the tooth around it for strength. When too much of the tooth is gone, a filling has nothing solid to hold onto and the remaining walls can crack. A crown covers the whole tooth and takes the chewing force itself. Dr. Tummala will show you the X-ray and explain which one your tooth can support.
Can a cracked tooth be saved with a crown?
Often, yes. A crown wraps the tooth and holds it together, which stops a crack from spreading under chewing pressure. Whether it works depends on how deep the crack runs. Cracks that stay in the upper part of the tooth respond well. Ones that extend below the gum or into the root are harder, and sometimes the tooth cannot be saved. Getting it looked at early makes a real difference.
How long do crowns last?
Ten to fifteen years is a reasonable expectation, and many last longer than that. The crown itself does not decay, but the natural tooth underneath still can, right at the edge where the crown meets the gum. That margin is what we check at your regular visits.
Will my bite feel different afterward?
It may feel slightly unfamiliar for a day or two while you get used to the new surface. What it should not do is feel high, like that tooth hits first when you close. If it does, call us. That is a quick adjustment, and leaving it can make the tooth sore or the crown wear unevenly.
What should I do if my crown comes loose or falls off?
Keep the crown, do not try to glue it back yourself, and call us at 713-723-7200. Household glues are not safe in the mouth and can make the crown impossible to re-cement properly. Meanwhile the tooth underneath is exposed and often sensitive, so avoid chewing on that side. If a piece has broken off or the tooth is painful, that is worth treating as an urgent visit.