Many solutions are available for patients looking for strong, attractive, and long-lasting dental crowns. A dental crown affects the appearance and functionality of your smile. At Crestwood Dental Group in St. Louis, Missouri, we offer patients durable porcelain and zirconia composite dental crowns to protect and restore their smiles.
Whenever patients have a tooth with significant decay that is chipped or broken or with cosmetic defects such as discoloration, a porcelain or zirconia dental crown may be recommended by Dr. James Maxwell and the team at Crestwood Dental Group. A dental crown is a protective cap that is custom-fit and placed over the damaged tooth in need of protection. While dental crowns are made of different materials, at Crestwood Dental, we use porcelain or zirconia. Our crowns are manufactured based on a model of the patient’s tooth and are shaped and shaded to match surrounding natural teeth. This ensures that your dental crown will be indistinguishable from the rest of your teeth.
In some cases, Dr. Maxwell may recommend a dental crown to correct extensive tooth decay or to provide strength and protection for a tooth which has become chipped, cracked, or broken. In other cases, patients come in requesting a crown for aesthetic reasons. In either case, receiving a dental crown will require multiple visits. During the first visit, Dr. Maxwell will take a digital impression of your mouth using state-of-the-art imaging technology. These images will be used as a model for the lab to construct your crown. The shading of your tooth will be examined so that we can create a crown that matches not only the shape of your tooth but also the color.
Any necessary work on the tooth, including decay removal, will be performed first. This ensures that the tooth is in a healthy state before it is capped. Once all repair work is completed, your tooth will be shaped so that the crown will comfortably conceal the tooth. It needs to fit securely to protect the tooth from any bacteria entering. This part of the procedure is the most time-consuming.
A temporary crown is significant for your tooth’s health during the time between your initial appointment and when you come back to receive your permanent crown. When a tooth is prepared for a crown, a significant amount of enamel is removed, and the tooth’s dentin becomes exposed. This makes the tooth very sensitive to temperature and any applied pressure. Your temporary crown will protect you from discomfort while keeping the tooth healthy. Dr. Maxwell will provide you with instructions on caring for your temporary crown.
When the lab completes your dental crown (typically a week to 10 days later), you will return to have it fitted and cemented. Local numbing around the tooth may be necessary to make this step comfortable. The temporary crown will be removed, and the tooth will be cleaned before the permanent crown is fitted. Once the dental crown is placed over the tooth, Dr. Maxwell will make any adjustments before bonding the crown. After the crown is bonded, he will check your bite and remove any excess material that creates bite issues. Once this is completed, you can walk out with a long-lasting and durable dental crown.
Call the Crestwood Dental Group team at (314) 463-5655 today to learn more about zirconia and porcelain dental crowns! Our office serves the greater St. Louis area, including the Crestwood, Webster Groves, Kirkwood, and Affton communities.
If you have a too-large-to-fill tooth cavity; your teeth are decayed, cracked, or otherwise weakened; or you have a gap that requires a dental bridge or implant, you may need a dental crown. This needs to be discussed with your dentist.
Stainless steel, metals, porcelain, and zirconia are some of the materials used to make dental crowns. Each offers different benefits, but porcelain and zirconia crowns are preferred by most clients these days due to their resemblance to natural teeth.
During the preparation of a tooth for a crown, a large amount of enamel is removed, which exposes the tooth’s dentin. This increases a tooth’s sensitivity to temperature and any applied pressure. A temporary crown can protect you from discomfort while keeping the tooth healthy.
A permanent dental crown may last between five and 15 years on average, although it can be more or less than this. The duration depends on the material used, the extent of wear and tear it has gone through, and maintenance of individual oral hygiene.
The type of material, the method of tooth preparation needed, the number of hours your dentist will spend on your crowns, and his/her fees would determine the final cost.
Dr. James Maxwell graduated from Allegheny College with a B.S. Degree in Biology in 1995, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine with a Doctor of Dental Medicine Degree in 2000. He stays abreast of developments in dentistry by following over 100 hours of continuing education courses each year, ex. Advanced Laser Dentistry courses and training at The Dawson Academy. He became the sole practitioner of Crestwood Dental Group in 2003.
Dr. Maxwell focuses on cosmetic, restorative, and preventative dentistry though he is skilled in all areas of general dentistry. A member of many professional organizations such as the American Dental Association, Missouri Dental Association, and the Greater St. Louis Dental Society, he has been nominated as a top dentist in St. Louis for five consecutive years by his peers. The list appears in St. Louis Magazine.
