Dental Crowns – Lakeville, MA

Teeth are quite strong, but due to trauma or tooth decay, they may suffer significant damage. If that happens to one or more members of your smile, the team at Southeastern Dental Care is ready to help! We offer a range of restorative services, including dental crowns. On this page, you will learn more about what dental crowns are and what you can expect from the treatment process.

What Are Dental Crowns?

A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that fits snugly over the entire portion of a tooth that is above the gumline. Its purpose is to restore the tooth’s original size, appearance, and functionality. Crowns can be made out of various materials, but we tend to favor dental-grade porcelain, a natural-looking material that simulates the look of tooth enamel. It will be made to mimic the crevices and indentations that a natural tooth would have. Crowns are always customized to work harmoniously with a patient’s bite.

Do You Need a Dental Crown?

Some scenarios in which a dental crown may be necessary include:

• An accident caused you to chip a tooth.
• You recently underwent root canal therapy, and your treated tooth needs extra protection.
• A tooth has a cavity that cannot be treated with a regular filling.
• A tooth is badly misshapen or worn down.
• You have a missing tooth (crowns can be used as part of a dental bridge or along with dental implants).
• You have an old crown that you would like to have replaced, either for function or aesthetics.

If you believe that you need a crown, do not delay treatment. Without a crown to protect it, the state of a damaged tooth will only become worse over time.

The Treatment Process

While other practices require at least two visits to give you a crown, thanks to CEREC technology, we are often able to repair our patients’ teeth in just one appointment. Here is an overview of how the process usually works:

• We prepare the tooth by removing some of its enamel (this is necessary to ensure the crown fits well).
• We take digital impressions of the tooth.
• Your dentist uses advanced technology to design your crown.
• Our in-house milling unit carves the crown out of dental porcelain.
• After we verify that the crown is a perfect fit, we attach it to the tooth.

Benefits of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns offer numerous benefits, including:

• They can be used as part of a treatment plan to preserve teeth that would otherwise need to be extracted.
• Porcelain crowns are shade-matched to blend in with the nearby teeth. They look incredibly natural!
• With proper care, a crown has the potential to last for 10 years or longer.
• Crowns are easy to care for. As long as you maintain excellent oral hygiene, avoid risky activities that might break the crown, and visit us for routine preventive appointments, your restoration should stand the test of time.
• Dental insurance usually covers about half the cost of crowns, up to the amount of a plan’s annual maximum.