When Dr. Michelle Mottinger places a dental crown at her Greensboro, NC, office, rest assured it's a good idea. Dental crowns feature many oral health benefits, not the least of which is vastly improved smile aesthetics. Learn more about these reliable dental restorations and how your mouth can benefit from them.
A tooth-sparing procedure
Dr. Mottinger and her professional team do their very best to preserve natural tooth structure. Extraction is a last resort, particularly when modern dentistry offers so many state-of-the-art restorations, such as tooth-colored fillings and porcelain crowns.
In particular, today's dental crowns beautify, strengthen, and extend the useful life of teeth damaged by:
- Traumatic injury
- Multiple fillings
- Weakened tooth structure due to root canal therapy, bruxism (teeth clenching and grinding, GERD (acid reflux), or simple wear and tear from the aging process
- Obvious fractures and chips
- Hairline cracks which cause pain when an individual bites and chews
Because of their versatility, these realistic, tooth-shaped caps of dental grade porcelain can restore dental implants and complete fixed bridgework. In the case of bridgework, crowns cover natural teeth on either side of a smile gap. Artificial teeth are attached to the crowns, forming a singularly strong replacement unit.
The treatment process
Your dental crown evaluation in Greensboro includes a complete oral examination and X-rays to determine if a crown restoration is indicated. If the answer is yes, Dr. Mottinger carefully shapes the healthy tooth structure so it securely receives the new crown. Oral impressions and detailed instructions from the doctor help the dental lab fashion the restoration from color-matched ceramic.
While you wait for your permanent crown, you'll wear a temporary cap to protect the tooth and normalize your smile. When it's ready, the new crown replaces the temporary and is cemented in place. Dr. Mottinger checks the shade, size, shape, and bite carefully.
Making it last
Good at-home brushing and flossing habits lengthen the life of any dental restoration, including porcelain crowns. Also, avoid hard foods, such as peanut brittle and ice, and limit chewy, sticky choices as well. See Dr. Mottinger semi-annually for your check-up and cleaning. She'll look at your crown to ensure it is solidly in place and functional.
Keep your teeth
Crowns help you do just that. Learn more about these and other restorations when you see Dr. Mottinger at your next check-up. Call today for an appointment in Greensboro, NC: (336) 375-1825.