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Dental crowns are protective coverings placed over individual teeth that restore the strength and appearance of those teeth. Crowns are created to appear like natural tooth surfaces. They fully encase the existing damaged tooth to make it look natural and healthy again, from the gum line to the biting surface of the tooth. The professional team of Gage Dental Care in Bell, CA can help you improve your smile and bite using dental crowns when appropriate.

Why do patients need dental crowns?

Dental crowns are designed to help with a variety of dental problems caused by damaged teeth.

A crown may be used for any of the following reasons:

  • Preventing weak, cracked or decayed teeth from breaking
  • Restoration of broken or severely worn down teeth
  • Covering and supporting teeth that have large fillings and little natural tooth remaining to support the filling
  • Holding dental bridges in place
  • Covering misshaped or badly discolored teeth for a brighter smile
  • Covering dental implants
  • Making cosmetic improvement

How is a crown installed on a tooth?

Most patients will visit Gage Dental Care for two visits to have a crown installed. During the first visit, the tooth is examined and prepared. The second appointment is placement of the custom-made permanent crown.

Appointment One: Examination and Preparation

During your first appointment, the dentist will possibly take some X-rays to check your tooth's roots and surrounding bone. Sometimes a root canal must be performed before a crown is installed, such as when there is extensive decay or the tooth's pulp is at risk for infection or injury.

The dentist will likely numb the tooth and surrounding gums before starting to make the crown. The tooth that will be crowned is filed down on the bite surface and its sides. This makes room for the crown to be installed, so your tooth will remain in proportion with other teeth. If your tooth that will be crowned has large defects where part of the tooth is missing, the dentist may build up the tooth's surface using filling material, so it can support the crown.

Once your tooth has been shaped and resized to fit the crown, the dentist will make an impression of your tooth using paste or putty. Teeth around your tooth to be crowned will also be imprinted, so your crown can be made to provide a good biting surface.

The impressions are then used to create a custom crown. This process can require several weeks. Meanwhile, you will have a temporary crown installed on your filed tooth. This temporary crown will protect and cover the prepared tooth until your permanent crown is installed.

Caring for your temporary crown involves being aware of things you should not do and foods to avoid. These guidelines include:

  • Avoid foods that are sticky and can pull the crown off your tooth, such as chewing gums and sticky candies like caramels
  • Try to not chew food directly on the temporary crown's surfaces, using the other side of your mouth for chewing
  • Avoid hard foods that can break or loosen the crown, such as hard vegetables and hard candies
  • When flossing your teeth, avoid lifting the dental floss directly up from the temporary crown's base, instead sliding the dental floss through the space between teeth

Appointment Two: Installation of Your New Crown

For your second crown appointment, your temporary crown will be removed so the dentist can check the size, fit and color of the permanent crown. Local anesthesia will be injected to the area where your crown will be installed. Finally, the new crown is put into place and permanently cemented.

Your new crown should last for a period of five years or more. Some crowns last as many as 15 years. How long your crown lasts depends on many factors, including how much wear and tear you put your crown through, how well you take care of your teeth and whether you have bad habits like ice chewing, teeth grinding or nail biting.

You do not have to add special steps to your daily oral hygiene regimen to care for your crown. Simply care for it as you do the rest of your teeth and avoid the bad habits that can damage any of the surfaces of your teeth. Remember that having a crown does not automatically protect your tooth from problems like tooth decay or gingivitis. You still need to take care of your crowned tooth as you would one of your other teeth.

Why Gage Dental Care for dental crowns?

The professionals of Gage Dental Care in Bell, CA enjoy working with patients to help them achieve their best and brightest smiles. When you need dental crowns, Dr. Abaian and Dr. Hanookai provide skills and experience that ensure natural and beautiful results. Dr. Hanookai provides healthy support for teeth and crowns by correcting structural issues within patients' mouths. Dr. Abaian helps patients have the comfortable, balanced and stunning smiles they want through expertly crafted crowns and veneers.

From your first appointment with Gage Dental Care to placement of your new crowns, Dr. Abaian, Dr. Hanookai and all of the professionals of Gage Dental Care will help you achieve the healthy, beautiful and vibrant smile you hope for. At Gage Dental Care, you will be treated by one of the most trusted dentists in Bell CA each time you visit.

Come In for Your Dental Crowns

Turning to Gage Dental Care for your dental crowns is the right decision for your oral health. Ongoing treatment by Dr. Abaian and Dr. Hanookai will make you part of the Gage Dental Care family, toward feeling the best you can about your teeth.

Your dental insurance and credit cards are likely acceptable for your treatment at Gage Dental Care. Before you come in for your first appointment, you can discuss your insurance coverage with the office staff. Through verification of your benefits, you can gain a clear idea of how that insurance plan can be used for your dental care. Affordability is a goal for our office, just as maximizing your dental insurance coverage will be a priority.

Other payment options are available, such as zero-interest financing for qualified patients and plans through several third-party dental financing companies. We will help you find the right method of payment for your needs to ensure you receive the dental treatment you need.