Dental Crowns – Lakeville, MA
Repair and Renew Damaged Teeth
Teeth are quite strong, but due to trauma or tooth decay, they may suffer significant damage. If that happens to one or more members of your smile, the team at Southeastern Dental Care is ready to help! We offer a range of restorative services, including dental crowns. On this page, you will learn more about what dental crowns are and what you can expect from the treatment process.
What Are Dental Crowns?
A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that fits snugly over the entire portion of a tooth that is above the gumline. Its purpose is to restore the tooth’s original size, appearance, and functionality. Crowns can be made out of various materials, but we tend to favor dental-grade porcelain, a natural-looking material that simulates the look of tooth enamel. It will be made to mimic the crevices and indentations that a natural tooth would have. Crowns are always customized to work harmoniously with a patient’s bite.
Do You Need a Dental Crown?
Some scenarios in which a dental crown may be necessary include:
- An accident caused you to chip a tooth.
- You recently underwent root canal therapy, and your treated tooth needs extra protection.
- A tooth has a cavity that cannot be treated with a regular filling.
- A tooth is badly misshapen or worn down.
- You have a missing tooth (crowns can be used as part of a dental bridge or along with dental implants).
- You have an old crown that you would like to have replaced, either for function or aesthetics.
If you believe that you need a crown, do not delay treatment. Without a crown to protect it, the state of a damaged tooth will only become worse over time.
The Treatment Process
While other practices require at least two visits to give you a crown, thanks to CEREC technology, we are often able to repair our patients’ teeth in just one appointment. Here is an overview of how the process usually works:
- We prepare the tooth by removing some of its enamel (this is necessary to ensure the crown fits well).
- We take digital impressions of the tooth.
- Your dentist uses advanced technology to design your crown.
- Our in-house milling unit carves the crown out of dental porcelain.
- After we verify that the crown is a perfect fit, we attach it to the tooth.
Benefits of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns offer numerous benefits, including:
- They can be used as part of a treatment plan to preserve teeth that would otherwise need to be extracted.
- Porcelain crowns are shade-matched to blend in with the nearby teeth. They look incredibly natural!
- With proper care, a crown has the potential to last for 10 years or longer.
- Crowns are easy to care for. As long as you maintain excellent oral hygiene, avoid risky activities that might break the crown, and visit us for routine preventive appointments, your restoration should stand the test of time.
- Dental insurance usually covers about half the cost of crowns, up to the amount of a plan’s annual maximum.
Dental Crown FAQs
How Do You Know When a Dental Crown Needs to Be Replaced?
While dental crowns can last for years, their lifespans are finite. It may be time for you to get a new restoration if you have noticed any of the following signs:
- The dental crown has come loose.
- The dental crown is significantly chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
- The dental crown has become discolored.
Call our office immediately if you have noticed problems with your crown. After examining your restoration, we can determine whether or not it truly needs to be replaced.
Do Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
You do not have to worry about your dental crown getting a cavity. That being said, there’s still a risk of the underlying tooth suffering from decay if harmful bacteria manage to get underneath the crown. As such, when brushing your teeth, you should take the time to clean your dental crown. Pay especially close attention to the area where the gums and the edges of the crown meet. Don’t forget to visit our office two times a year; we can check for signs of decay and let you know if there are any problems developing.
Does It Hurt to Get a Dental Crown?
Keeping our patients as comfortable as possible is an important aspect of any dental treatment. As such, we can use a local anesthetic to keep your mouth numb during the dental crown process. Some patients experience tooth sensitivity afterward. It shouldn’t be anything that you can’t control with ibuprofen or another over-the-counter painkiller; however, we urge you to call us right away if the pain suddenly gets worse.
Can I Claim a Dental Crown as an FSA or HSA Expense?
Some patients have an FSA (flexible spending account) or an HSA (health savings account) that they use to help them pay for dental treatments. You can potentially claim a dental crown as an FSA or HSA expense, but bear in mind that this is only for crowns that are being placed for restorative reasons, such as to repair a broken tooth; purely cosmetic crowns are generally not eligible.
Our team can review the specifics of your FSA or HSA with you to make sure that you fully understand what coverage is available and how it can help you pay for your dental crown.