Gwaltney Dental has restorative dentistry treatments to help your smile if you have a severely chipped or cracked tooth. Severe chips and cracks may cause chewing discomfort and dental decay if left untreated. Seeing a dentist immediately is important if you experience tooth damage or decay.
When you visit our office with a dental health concern, we aim to help you restore your smile using the best treatment options. If damaged extensively, some teeth may require more extensive care, like a total tooth extraction. In these cases, we have to completely replace the tooth using alternatives like dental implants.
However, we know how important it is to save natural tooth structure for the integrity of your bite. This is why we utilize dental crowns whenever possible. Teeth crowns help patients enjoy a restored smile without extracting a tooth.
Using advanced digital technology, we may offer a same-day dental crown. This enables patients to have a tooth restored in a single visit. Your dentist will make the most appropriate recommendation based on your oral health condition, aesthetic needs, and budget.
When Dental Crowns Are Needed?
Your dentist may recommend a dental crown to protect, fix, or improve the appearance of your tooth. You might need a crown if you have a damaged tooth, worn down tooth, or a very big cavity that a regular filling cannot fix. You may also need a crown if you need a root canal. We often place crowns after root canals to strengthen the tooth and lower the risk of it breaking.
If your tooth is cracked, a crown helps hold it together so it does not break more. Sometimes, crowns are put on teeth that are discolored or misshaped to help them blend in with your other teeth. Your dentist will also use crowns to hold bridges in place or to cover a dental implant.
Dental Crowns in Suffolk, VA
Dr. Steve Gwaltney, Dr. J. Ryland Gwaltney, and Dr. Whitney Gwaltney are highly-trained restorative dentists in Suffolk, VA. They have helped many patients restore their smiles following dental damage using dental crowns. Dental crowns are porcelain caps that replace the entire exterior of your tooth.
If a tooth is severely damaged, we will file it down to its foundational core to prepare for a dental crown. This allows you to maintain toothroot functionality for your restoration. Then, the dental crown will be placed over the tooth’s foundational core. It will functionally replace your damaged tooth while also protecting the core of the tooth from further damage.
CEREC Same-Day Crowns
Our office provides same-day dental crowns using CEREC technology. Traditional dental crowns often require multiple visits to complete the crown process. Multiple dental impressions have to be taken. Then the impressions must be sent to a dental lab where the crown is made. A temporary crown has to be placed on the tooth to protect it. Finally, the permanent crown is returned to our office about two weeks later.
However, with our CEREC technology, we can take optical impressions, design, and create your custom crown in our office within a single appointment. This is much more convenient for patients and allows them to leave our office with a fully restored smile following experiencing dental damage.
CEREC crowns look like your natural tooth and blend in with your smile. This allows you to maintain the natural appearance of your smile so you can face the world with confidence.
How to Take Care of Your Dental Crown
Taking care of a tooth with a dental crown is vital to maintaining oral health. First, make sure you brush your teeth twice each day with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. This habit helps keep your mouth clean and prevents damage to your crown.
Floss once daily to remove food stuck between your teeth and around the crown. While the crown cannot decay, the underlying tooth can if food is lodged close to it. Flossing to remove food that wedges between the tooth and the crown will lower your risk of decay.
Avoid very sticky or hard foods like caramel or ice since they can break or loosen your crown. If you grind your teeth at night, ask your dentist about wearing a night guard.
Visit your dentist for regular checkups. If your crown feels loose or hurts, do not ignore it. Call your dentist right away. A dental crown can last many years if you take good care of it, so follow these steps to keep your smile healthy and bright.
Dental Crown FAQs
Dental crowns are a versatile tool for many dental concerns. Learn more by reading the answers to these commonly asked questions.
What to expect after getting a dental crown?
The healing period after the placement of a dental crown is normally a few days. Inflammation, sensitivity, and irritation are all possible adverse effects of the surgery, but they should go away after a week or two. Rinsing with warm salt water several times a day can help minimize swelling.
How long before you can chew on a new crown?
Once we place the new crown, you should wait at least 1 hour before eating. You should wait at least 24 to 36 hours before eating anything spicy, sticky, or chewy. Stay away from nuts, chips, bagels, and anything else crunchy. These are more likely to cause sensitivity and damage to the crown.
When can I drink after getting a crown?
Avoid sticky foods and drinks for 24 hours after getting a permanent crown. After that, you can resume your normal dental hygiene and diet.
Should there be a gap between my crown and gum?
A sign that your crown no longer fits in the appearance of space between the gums and the restoration. The infection brought on by neglectful dental care is a common cause of gum recession. As plaque and food particles become trapped in the gap, harmful bacteria grow.
How long does a permanent crown take to settle?
The new crown may initially feel bulky and large to the patient, but in a little more than two weeks, the patient will become accustomed to it. We recommend returning to our office if it doesn’t feel right after two weeks. Our team can examine the crown to make sure that it fits properly.
Can food get under a crown?
Food can become stuck under a crown. However, it is rare. Patients should maintain good hygiene to ensure nothing can become stuck underneath a crown. We recommend brushing and flossing twice daily. However, if the crown does not fit properly, food may likely become stuck beneath it.
How long will my tooth hurt after a crown?
Following the implantation of a dental crown, you can feel some short-term discomfort. This discomfort shouldn’t last more than two weeks. Patients may take an OTC pain reliever to alleviate discomfort. However, if discomfort persists after two weeks, contact our office.
Request A Dental Exam Today
If you have suffered from dental damages, there is no time like the present to call our office and schedule your CEREC same-day dental crown appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon and helping you achieve a beautiful and healthy smile.