Transform Your Smile with Custom Crowns
At Queen Anne Smiles, we specialize in restoring the health, function, and beauty of your smile with custom dental crowns. Led by Dr. Karla Aylen, an expert in restorative, cosmetic, and geriatric dentistry, who previously served as a director at a retirement home dental clinic, and brings a deep understanding of the unique needs of geriatric patients. Our team uses a conservative approach and advanced digital technology to create crowns that look and feel completely natural. A dental crown is a reliable, long-lasting solution for a damaged or weakened tooth, allowing you to eat, speak, and smile with renewed confidence.
What Are Dental Crowns?
A dental crown, often called a “cap,” is a custom-made restoration that completely covers a damaged, decayed, or cosmetically flawed tooth. It is designed to restore the tooth’s original shape, size, strength, and appearance. By encasing the entire visible portion of a tooth down to the gum line, a crown becomes the tooth’s new outer surface, protecting the underlying structure from further damage.
At Queen Anne Smiles, we use high-quality materials and precise digital scanning to ensure your crown fits perfectly and blends seamlessly with your natural teeth. Whether you need to strengthen a fragile tooth after a root canal or improve the look of your smile, a crown offers a durable and aesthetically pleasing solution.
Why Dental Crowns Are an Important Solution
A dental crown is more than just a cosmetic fix; it is a critical investment in your long-term oral health. By addressing underlying structural issues, a crown can prevent more serious problems and help you avoid costly, complex procedures in the future.
Restore Strength and Prevent Fractures
A tooth with a large filling, significant decay, or a crack is structurally weak and prone to breaking. A crown encases the compromised tooth, holding it together and providing the strength needed to withstand normal chewing forces, effectively preventing a painful fracture.
Protect a Tooth After Root Canal Therapy
Following a root canal, a tooth becomes brittle and more susceptible to damage. Placing a crown over the treated tooth is an essential final step that seals it from infection and provides the robust protection it needs to function for years to come.
Provide a Durable, Long-Lasting Restoration
Crafted from high-strength materials like porcelain and zirconia, modern dental crowns are built to last. With proper care, a crown can serve you well for 15 years or more, making it a reliable and cost-effective solution for preserving your smile.
Anchor Dental Bridges and Complete Implants
Crowns play a vital role in other restorative treatments. They are placed on healthy teeth to anchor a dental bridge, and they serve as the final, visible "tooth" portion of a dental implant, completing the restoration with a functional, natural-looking tooth.
Who Needs a Dental Crown?
Dr. Aylen may recommend a dental crown as part of a conservative treatment plan if you are experiencing one or more of the following issues. You are likely an excellent candidate for a crown if:
- You have a tooth that is cracked, broken, or severely worn down, or pain with biting.
- You have a large, failing filling that has left the tooth structure weak.
- You have completed a root canal on a tooth that now requires protection.
- You want to improve the appearance of a tooth that is misshapen or severely discolored.
- You are replacing a missing tooth with a dental bridge or dental implant.
Your Custom Dental Crown Treatment Plan
At Queen Anne Smiles, your treatment is tailored to your specific clinical needs and aesthetic goals. We use advanced materials to create crowns that are both beautiful and incredibly strong. Dr. Aylen will help you choose the best option for your smile.
Porcelain & Ceramic Crowns
Ideal for front teeth, all-porcelain or all-ceramic crowns provide the most natural look. They can be perfectly color-matched to your surrounding teeth, making them virtually indistinguishable from your natural smile.
Zirconia Crowns
Known for their exceptional strength and durability, zirconia crowns are an excellent choice for molars that endure heavy chewing forces. This modern material combines strength with impressive aesthetics, as it can also be shaded to match your teeth.
The Dental Crown Process at Queen Anne Smiles
Our streamlined, in-house process ensures your experience is comfortable, convenient, and efficient from start to finish.
1. Consultation and Tooth Preparation: Your journey begins with a comprehensive exam, where Dr. Aylen will assess the tooth and confirm that a crown is the best solution. The area is numbed, and a small amount of the tooth’s outer layer is shaped to make room for the crown. For anxious patients, we offer nitrous oxide to ensure a calm and relaxed experience.
2. Precise Digital Impressions: We use a state-of-the-art digital scanner to create a highly accurate 3D model of your tooth. This modern technology eliminates the need for messy, uncomfortable putty impressions and provides the precise data needed to craft a perfectly fitting crown.
3. Placement of a Temporary Crown: While your permanent restoration is being meticulously crafted by a dental laboratory, we will place a temporary crown over your prepared tooth. This protects the tooth and allows you to function normally between appointments.
4. Final Fitting of Your Permanent Crown: Once your custom crown is ready, you will return for your final fitting. Dr. Aylen will remove the temporary crown and place the permanent one, carefully checking the fit, bite, and color. After confirming a perfect match, the crown is permanently cemented in place, restoring your tooth to its full strength and beauty.
Dental Crowns FAQs
With proper oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups, a well-made dental crown can last for 15 years or even longer. Avoiding habits like chewing on ice or hard objects will help extend its lifespan.
No. We ensure the tooth and surrounding area are completely numb with local anesthesia before beginning the procedure. At Queen Anne Smiles, patient comfort is our top priority, and we also offer sedation options like nitrous oxide for anyone feeling anxious.
Absolutely. We use advanced digital technology to take precise impressions and work with high-quality materials that mimic the translucency and shade of natural tooth enamel. Dr. Aylen is meticulous about ensuring your new crown blends seamlessly with your smile.
The cost of a crown depends on the material used and your specific dental needs. Queen Anne Smiles is a PPO provider for most dental insurances, and we will provide a clear, transparent cost estimate after your consultation.
You can care for your crown just as you would your natural teeth. Maintain a consistent routine of brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting us for regular cleanings and check-ups to ensure the health of the crown and the underlying tooth.