The crown serves two important functions. First, it restores the appearance of your teeth and your face. If your tooth is severely decayed or cracked, Dr. Sayeg will need to restore it prior to preparing a crown. Teeth support the muscles in or faces, so anything less that a full tooth may affect the way you look. Second, a crown will be the same size and shape as the natural tooth (with cosmetic enhancements, if desired) and as a result will keep your jaw and bite aligned � it will also make sure other teeth do not shift locations or take on a greater share of the work of biting and chewing.
Crowns (sometimes called Caps) have been the mainstay of the Dentist's tools for saving decayed, injured and discolored teeth. In the past, most of these restorations would look very fake and sometimes downright ugly. Today's porcelain crowns, when crafted by a skilled cosmetic dentist and a master ceramist will look like your natural tooth or teeth and in many cases even better! They are shells of ceramic porcelain, which are either bonded or cemented to your natural teeth and are an ideal choice for improving the appearance of your teeth and smile.
Traditional crowns have a shell of ceramic that is usually fused to gold. The result is generally a �flat� look with a gray tone underneath the porcelain. Often, after the traditional crowns are placed, the metal edge around the gum line becomes visible, resulting in a dark appearance of the tooth and gums. The all-porcelain crowns do not use metal thus you get a more translucent, natural look with no metal edges. They can also match the color of your natural teeth more effectively than traditional crowns. The life expectancy for both types of crowns is generally five to twenty years depending on the health of the tooth, and the patient�s home care. Patients with periodontal disease or whose teeth are severely broken down are not ideal candidates for all-porcelain crowns and may need crowns with additional metal support. Some teeth that have had root canal treatment may also need traditional crowns.
All-porcelain crowns are a beautiful way to improve your smile and your dental health. Dr. Sayeg will consult with you and determine if this is the right restoration for you. The consultation includes an evaluation of the present conditions, a visual examination and sometimes x-rays and models. We then take before photographs and use wax on the models to give you an idea of what the final restorations will look like. The next appointment will take from one to three hours depending on how many teeth are involved. Dr. Sayeg will remove any old restorations and shape the remaining teeth to fit under the crowns.
Several impressions will be taken of the teeth, which will be sent to a master ceramist with a prescription and a detailed plan for how the permanent crowns are to look. The master ceramist will then fabricate the crowns within a three-week period. Dr. Sayeg will make temporary crowns to protect the teeth during the interim and until your next appointment you will need to avoid extreme temperatures and any hard or chewy foods.
Your return appointment will take about one to two hours depending on how many teeth are involved. First, we remove the temporaries and place the crowns in with a try-in paste to get a sense of the shade or color. We view the esthetic results, and pay particular attention to the color, shape, and length. Using a full-face mirror, we will have you look at your teeth from different positions, under different lighting, while sitting and standing. When you are pleased with the results we will then seat the crowns with permanent cement or bonding agent and polish the crowns.
For a week or two you may go through a period of adjustment as you get used to your new teeth that are now a different size and shape. It is also not uncommon to have some slight sensitivity to hot and cold for a short period of time after the crowns are delivered. If several crowns have been placed, Dr. Sayeg may want to see you three to seven days after the delivery of your crowns to check on the appearance, function, and the health of the surrounding gums. It is important to continue your routine home care of brushing and flossing daily, as plaque and food can cause decay around the gum line and under your crowns. You will also need to continue with your routine preventative visits two to three times a year.
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