Dental crowns have been around a long time, but they continue to play an important role in Maple Grove cosmetic dentistry. A dental crown, often called a cap, covers the visible part of the tooth.

Dental crowns are used for several problems common among Minneapolis cosmetic dentistry patients:

An old crown that is damaged or ill-fitting
A broken tooth
A tooth with extreme decay
A tooth that has had a root canal
A tooth that is too small or misshapen
A tooth that prevents a proper bite

A dental crown serves both structural and aesthetic purposes. It protects a natural tooth from additional decay and damage while permitting normal function. In addition, a dental crown often prevents the need for an extraction and the bone loss that can occur with a missing tooth.

Minneapolis cosmetic dentistry patients who get a dental crown should not assume that the tooth is now invincible. Crowns need daily cleaning and flossing just like natural teeth. The remaining tooth structure just around the gumline could still become decayed and the soft tissue around the crown is susceptible to gum disease. Chewing hard foods or using your teeth as a tool can cause a crown to crack or break. (Use scissors to open a stubborn plastic package – don’t bite and pull!) Your Maple Grove cosmetic dentist can advise you on caring for your new crown so that it will last as long as possible. Some of our Plymouth MN patients have crowns that are still looking beautiful after ten years.

For information, call Arbor Lakes Dental today at 763-515-1171 or visit https://www.arborlakesdental.com/about-arbor-lakes-dental.

Cosmetic Dentistry
Restorative Dentistry
Dental Implants
Family Dentistry
Teeth Whitening

Minneapolis endodontists, oral surgeons, and general dentists use dental crowns (sometimes called caps) in many restorative treatments. A crown adds strength to a tooth that has a large filling or has been injured, a crown can correct bite misalignments, and a crown is usually necessary after a root canal. In a dental implant procedure, attaching the crown to the abutment is the final step.

Crowns are also used extensively for purely cosmetic problems: yellow teeth, stained teeth, too-small teeth, and teeth that are misshapen.

Dental crowns are fabricated from a variety of materials that vary in appearance and strength:

1. All ceramic (porcelain-based)
2. Porcelain fused to metal
3. Gold alloys
4. Base metal alloys

Your dentist can help you determine which type is right for you. Factors to consider are: the location of the crown in the mouth, your budget, and any allergies to metal.

When many Maple Grove dentists provide a crown restoration, they use a process that requires two office visits. On the first visit, the dentist will prepare the tooth and take an impression for the dental lab. Then, the dentist will make a temporary crown for the patient to use until the permanent crown is ready. Some dentists have special technology that allows them to fabricate and place crowns in one visit.

How Long Do Dental Crowns Last? Dental crowns can last for many years, but are not designed to last indefinitely. Even with proper care, dental patients should not expect crowns to be trouble-free for decades. There is encouraging evidence, however, that points to a high success rate: a 2009 study found that more than 90% of dental crowns will not require treatment within five years of placement. The study also found that 50% to 80% last from 15 to 20 years.¹

At Arbor Lakes Dental in Maple Grove, we provide quality restorative and cosmetic dentistry. In addition to dental crowns, we offer cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers, and dental bridges.

Jamie Sledd
Arbor Lakes Dental
12000 Elm Creek Blvd, Ste 230
Maple Grove, MN 55369
763-515-1171
https://www.arborlakesdental.com/about-arbor-lakes-dental

¹Bader JD1, Shugars DA., “Summary review of the survival of single crowns,” PubMed.gov, 2009, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19146146, accessed June 16, 2014