Dental Crowns – Jersey City, NJ
Rebuild Your Smile’s Health & Confidence
Tooth decay and damage can make eating, speaking, and smiling increasingly difficult. Without proper treatment, the problem can worsen, leading to costly and timely restorative care. Fortunately, at AV Dental Associates of Jersey City, our team of experts is well-versed in providing safe and effective solutions that are designed to protect and strengthen natural teeth. With dental crowns in Jersey City, you can expect high-quality results from a team that is committed to the future of your oral health. Call us today.
Why Choose AV Dental Associates of Jersey City for Dental Crowns?
- High-Quality Ceramic Materials Available
- Comfortable, Welcoming Dental Office Atmosphere
- No Dental Insurance? We Have an In-House Membership Plan
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is one of the most common restorative treatments available in dentistry. This tooth-shaped “cap” is placed over a damaged tooth and helps rebuild its original size, shape, strength, and cosmetic appearance. Once it has been securely cemented in place, a quality dental crown will enclose the entire visible outline of the tooth above the patient’s gumline.
Dental crowns may be a necessary restorative dentistry solution in the following situations:
- To protect a weak or decayed tooth from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth
- To restore a broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down
- To secure a dental bridge
- To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t a lot of viable dental structure left
- To cover unattractive, misshapen, or severely discolored teeth
- To enclose a dental implant
- To make a cosmetic modification
Crowns are ideal for situations where fractures have occurred in teeth and a filling just isn’t adequate to correct the problem. Fillings are placed within affected teeth, while crowns are designed to cover them. This restorative solution can be crafted from a variety of materials, from aesthetic porcelain/ceramic to traditional gold. Bridges are a larger version and are often used to replace missing teeth in a row as a more permanent alternative to dentures.
The Dental Crown Process
At AV Dental Associates of Jersey City, we are pleased to offer patients an alternative to traditional crowns. While the option is still available to have a customized crown created by lab technicians, it is also possible to have a new restoration created in-house during a single appointment.
Traditionally, after a dentist in Jersey City cleans out the decayed tooth and files it down, impressions are taken and sent to a dental lab for restoration fabrication. This typically requires two dental appointments, and the patient is required to wear a temporary between visits.
With CEREC technology, however, patients can reduce the number of visits needed to complete the process as well as avoid wearing a temporary crown while waiting for the finalized crown to be created. Once impressions are taken of a person’s tooth, the three-dimensional model is uploaded to specialized software that allows our team to make adjustments and ensure the restoration will fit comfortably when placed.
The details are then transferred to an in-house milling unit where a single block of porcelain will be placed. While the patient waits, the customized crown is created. When ready, we will remove the crown from the device, give it a thorough look to ensure there are no flaws or issues, and then we’ll put it in place, securing it over the vulnerable tooth structure.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
Patients who are interested in receiving a dental crown to repair a broken or decayed tooth can expect the following benefits:
- Faster delivery when using CEREC technology
- Durable, sturdy restorations that can last 10-15 years with proper care
- Easy maintenance
- Improved appearance combined with boosted confidence
- Greater oral functionality when eating, speaking, and smiling
- Added protection to a vulnerable tooth structure
- Requires no temporary (if choosing CEREC crowns)
Dental Crowns FAQs
Are dental crowns permanent?
Unfortunately, dental crowns are not designed to be permanent. Their lifespan averages 15-20 years if you take care of them properly. While highly durable thanks to the various materials used to create them (i.e., porcelain, ceramic, and gold), they will wear down over time, requiring replacement.
Fortunately, as long as you practice good oral hygiene at home, see our dental team every six months for a checkup and cleaning, avoid unhealthy habits, and eat a nutritious diet, you can expect your crown(s) to last.
How do you know when a dental crown needs to be replaced?
Certain symptoms can arise that indicate when it’s time to have your dental crown(s) replaced. They include:
- Increased Pain – This is common if you develop tooth decay beneath your dental crown. Although designed to keep this from happening, the bonding agent used to attach them to teeth can become loose, making it easier for bacteria to spread beneath the restoration and negatively affect your vulnerable tooth.
- Crown is Unstable – If you throw caution to the wind and eat whatever food you want, it can damage your dental crown and cause it to become unstable. In this case, our team will need to re-bond it or replace it altogether depending on the severity of the damage.
- Damage to the Crown – Durable and capable of withstanding daily wear and tear, dental crowns can become damaged if an accident occurs. We’ll need to fix it with cosmetic care or replace it.
- Stains or Discoloration – Certain restorative materials can cause discoloration easier than others (i.e., porcelain versus ceramic). A dark-colored band can form if a porcelain crown is provided, but stains can form if excess consumption of dark-colored beverages occurs. It’s best to avoid darkly pigmented food and drinks and seek dental help if you notice the metal of your crown showing.
Do dental crowns feel natural?
Yes, your dental crown, once it is in place, will feel completely natural. You’ll be able to eat and chew food without any pain, and you’ll enjoy a better-protected smile. Depending on the type of material used to create your crown, it can blend in with your existing teeth, making it difficult or even impossible for anyone to know you have an artificial tooth.
What happens if you wait too long to get a dental crown?
If you choose not to receive a dental crown right away, you run the risk of tooth decay spreading further into the inner layers. This can lead to a serious infection that requires a root canal or tooth extraction to fix.
When meeting with your dentist to discuss your situation, they will determine the best course of action to ensure your oral and overall health improve.
Seeking treatment sooner rather than later will reduce the amount of time and money you spend in the dentist’s chair. Not to mention, you can save your tooth from possible extraction – a procedure that must be followed up with some form of replacement, which can lead to higher costs over time.
