Dental crowns in Springfield
Crowns that protect and restore your teeth.
A crown covers a damaged or weakened tooth to protect it and bring back its look and function. With CEREC, many crowns can be made right in our office.
What is a dental crown?
A dental crown, often called a cap, is a tooth-colored restoration that covers the whole visible part of a tooth, from the gum line to the chewing surface. It is permanently attached and made to look like your natural teeth.
Crowns are often used when a filling will not fix the problem. They can protect a weakened tooth from cracking further, and they can also be used for cosmetic reasons, such as changing the shape, color, or size of a tooth.
When a crown may help
Your dentist may recommend a crown for a tooth that is broken, cracked, or fractured, or one weakened by extensive decay. Large fillings can leave a tooth weak and easier to break, and a crown can help protect it. A crown is also often placed after a root canal for extra protection.
If you are missing a tooth, a crown can be attached to a dental implant to replace it. Crowns can also cover a tooth that is deeply stained and cannot be whitened, or one that is misshapen.
A crown is not the only option. Bonding can be a shorter-term fix for a stained or chipped tooth, though it does not hold up as long. For a chipped front tooth, porcelain veneers may be another choice. Your dentist can help you weigh the options.
Making your crown with CEREC
Treatment starts with an exam. Your dentist takes care of any dental work the tooth needs first, such as treating decay or a fracture, and shapes the tooth for the crown.
Next, your dentist uses our CEREC system to take digital pictures of your tooth and chooses a shade to match your nearby teeth. CEREC uses a camera, computer imaging software, and a milling machine to make the crown in our office, usually in a single visit. That means you can often skip a temporary crown and a second trip to have the permanent one placed.
If your crown is made by a dental lab instead, you wear a temporary crown in the meantime, so you can still bite normally until the permanent crown is ready.
Caring for your crown
Care for a crown the way you care for your natural teeth: brush at least twice a day, floss between your teeth, and keep up with your exams and cleanings every six months.
Crowns can break if they take a hard hit. If you grind or clench your teeth at night, a night guard can help protect them, and a mouth guard can help if you play contact sports. Crown material resists stains, but it also will not whiten, so it is worth choosing a shade you like. With good care, a crown can last many years.
Is this right for me?
Dental crowns may be a good fit if you:
- Have a broken, cracked, or fractured tooth
- Have a large filling that leaves the tooth weak
- Have had a root canal
- Have a tooth weakened by decay
- Are replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant
- Have a tooth that is deeply stained or misshapen
What to expect
Your visit, step by step.
- An exam to look at the tooth and plan your treatment.
- Any dental work the tooth needs, and shaping the tooth for the crown.
- Digital pictures of your tooth with CEREC, and a shade chosen to match your nearby teeth.
- Your crown milled in our office, often ready to place in the same visit.
- Home care like a natural tooth, with exams and cleanings every six months.
Questions we hear
Dental crowns FAQs
Can I get a crown in one visit?
Often, yes. Our CEREC system lets your dentist design and mill a crown in our office, usually in a single visit, so you may not need a temporary crown or a second appointment. If your crown is made by a dental lab, you wear a temporary crown until the permanent one is ready.
How long do dental crowns last?
With good care, crowns can last many years. They typically last much longer than bonding, which tends to last around a decade.
Will my crown look natural?
Crowns are tooth-colored and made to match the shade and shape of your surrounding teeth. Your dentist can even design them to look like your old teeth.
Can a crown get stained?
Crown material resists staining. It also will not lighten with whitening, so choose a shade you are happy with.
How do I take care of a crown?
Brush at least twice a day, floss, and see us every six months for your exam and cleaning. Wear a night guard if you grind or clench your teeth, and a mouth guard for contact sports, to help protect the crown from damage.
Ready when you are
Let’s make your next visit something to smile about.
New patients are welcome. Call us or send a request, and we will help you take the next comfortable step.
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