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Dental Crowns in Austin, TX

What Is a Dental Crown?

Repairing Damaged Teeth

Dental crowns, also called "caps," are tooth-shaped pieces of porcelain crowns that are designed to cover up your existing tooth all the way down to the gum line. They are one of the best options for treating severely damaged teeth. This is considered restorative dentistry. With a dental crown from Austin Dental Company, you can restore your smile, eliminate pain and discomfort, and reduce the risk of future complications related to your damaged tooth. We are located in Austin, TX, but we proudly serve the dental patients in surrounding areas such as Westlake.

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What Are Crowns Used for?

Common Treatments Requiring Crowns

Dental crowns are commonly used to repair large cavities that are too big for dental fillings. In addition to this, crowns may be used to repair and cover up a tooth after root canal therapy.

Crowns are also very popular for treating teeth that have been damaged or broken due to dental trauma from an accident and are highly effective at repairing cracked and chipped teeth.

More rarely, crowns can be used for cosmetic purposes. Crowns are sometimes a superior choice compared to cosmetic dentistry treatments like veneers and dental bonding, particularly for very small or misshapen teeth, or for teeth with very severe staining.

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The Crown Placement Process

What to Expect

Initial Consultation

To begin the process, you'll come and see Dr. Morren for a quick consultation. He will diagnose your oral health issues and help you decide if one or more dental crowns may be appropriate for your treatment.

Tooth Preparation

Depending on the urgency of your issue, this may be done right after your appointment, or as a separate appointment. Dr. Morren will need to trim down your tooth using a dental crown to prepare it for the crown. Up to 80% of the natural material may be removed to create a stable, solid platform for your new dental crown.

Building the Dental Crown

Once your tooth has been trimmed, Dr. Morren will take scans and impressions of your tooth, and send this material to a dental lab. At this lab, a team of experienced technicians will use the latest technology to build a custom-fitted, durable crown. This will take about a week or two, so in the meantime, Dr. Morren will attach a temporary crown to protect your tooth and send you home.

Final Crown Placement

Once your permanent crown arrives at our office in a few weeks, you will come in for your final appointment. Dr. Morren will gently remove your temporary crown and clean the natural tooth. Then, he will check your porcelain crown to make sure it fits perfectly, and bond it into place permanently with powerful dental cement.

Do I Need a Crown?

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If you have a very deep cavity, a tooth infection, or a tooth that's been damaged by an oral injury, you may be a good candidate for a dental crown. This treatment will help restore your smile and your bite, relieve your pain and discomfort, and prevent further oral health issues. Contact your dentist in Austin, TX today to schedule an appointment today or ask us questions about sedation dentistry.

How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?

Dental crowns can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years depending on the type of material used, the location in the mouth, your oral hygiene, and how well you follow aftercare and maintenance instructions.

Crowns made of more durable and strong materials like metal or zirconia will last much longer than aesthetic but fragile materials like porcelain. This is why it is recommended to place more durable crowns in the rear molars to protect teeth that have to withstand a lot more force from chewing.

Porcelain crowns are great options for the front teeth but will not last very long and are even at the risk of damage or breakage when placed toward the back of the mouth. While crowns will protect a tooth from damage, they won’t protect you from tooth decay and gum disease if you don’t practice good oral hygiene.

Dental Crown Aftercare: What to Expect

Immediately after crown placement, you may experience some minor tooth sensitivity and inflammation that can last for a few days. This can be alleviated with anti-inflammatory pain medication and should subside within a couple of days. We recommend rinsing your mouth with a saltwater solution.

In the long term, brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss once a day. You should attend dental cleanings every 6 months and limit your exposure to staining foods and drinks. If you grind your teeth, wear a mouthguard at night and don’t use your teeth as tools.

You may also want to avoid hard, sticky, and crunchy foods which can break or dislodge your crown. Don’t chew on ice, your fingernails, or on foods like popcorn, nuts, and hard candy.

Smiling and holding up her clear aligners

Does It Hurt to Get a Crown?

No, a dental crown procedure should not cause any pain. We will administer a topical numbing gel to your mouth before injecting you with a local anesthetic that will numb your entire mouth before filing down your tooth in preparation for the dental crown.

This will be completely painless and although you may feel some pressure or movement, it will not cause any discomfort. Additional sedation is also available upon request if you experience dental anxiety. A dental crown will protect your tooth from painful conditions like infections or broken teeth.

While the procedure will not be painful, once the anesthetic wears off, it’s normal to experience minor tenderness around the area of a tooth as a result of the drilling. This should not be severe and should go away within just a few days.

You can take anti-inflammatory pain medication to get relief in the meantime but if pain persists or becomes intense, you should contact us right away because this is abnormal and could be a sign of an infection.

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