Dental Crowns Park Ridge

Does your smile suffer from decayed, damaged, infected, discolored, or otherwise imperfect teeth? Have you been told you need a root canal, a dental bridge, or even dental implants? At our dental clinic, we are proud to offer dental crowns in Park Ridge for our patients who will benefit from them.

Not sure if a dental crown procedure would be the best option for you and your smile? Feel free to schedule a consultation with a dentist in Park Ridge, IL. We would be happy to evaluate your affected tooth to determine the best treatment option available.

Dental crowns are a restorative dental treatment option that utilizes a dental cap that has been designed to look, feel, and function just like a natural tooth crown. In fact, they fit completely over the natural tooth crown, giving your tooth a completely new surface. This will support the damaged tooth and protect it from further decay or stress. Choosing an attractive crown will also restore the appearance of a tooth that’s affected by decay, discoloration, or wear.

Tooth crowns can be made using various materials. In the past, metal crowns were common. Now, many people prefer tooth-colored crowns, which can be either porcelain-fused to metal or full ceramic crowns. Not only will you improve the health and function of your teeth–you’ll get a smile that you’ll be happy to share.

Dental crowns aren’t our first choice of restorations–we’d rather catch problems before they require crowns. However, they are versatile restorations, and we’ll recommend them in many situations, such as when your tooth is:

A tooth that is weakened by decay, chipping, or cracking needs protection and support. A dental crown will restore strength to these teeth so they can keep functioning for years, even decades to come. This includes a tooth that’s been treated with root canal therapy because it was infected. After removing the interior of the tooth, it usually needs the extra support and protection a crown gives.

We can also use dental crowns in a cosmetic procedure like a smile makeover. A crown can do everything that a veneer can do, but it’s stronger and more protective.

The structural ability of a crown is also important when we’re performing a full mouth reconstruction. If we’re building up your bite, we need restorations that can support your new bite.

Dental crowns can even help replace a missing tooth. A traditional dental bridge is supported by one or more crowns over natural teeth. A dental implant supports itself, but needs to be topped with a crown to fully replace a lost tooth.

Getting a dental crown is a pretty simple process.

Before placing the dental crown, Dr. Mark Kuchta will prepare your tooth. He’ll remove some tooth enamel and other tooth materials. He will remove all the damaged parts of the tooth and just enough to create a strong foundation for the crown. By preparing the tooth, your dentist can ensure that the crown will fit properly and provide the protection needed.

Once prepared, we will use our TRIOS digital scanner to take an impression of your teeth. We can send this impression to the dental lab, where they’ll design your crown. Meanwhile, you’ll wear a temporary crown, which is attractive but not very durable.

When your long-term crown is ready, we’ll call you into the office. Dr. Kuchta will test the fit and ask you about the appearance (if it’s a cosmetic crown). If the fit and look are satisfactory, Dr. Kuchta will bond the crown directly over the top of your natural tooth, completely concealing it.

Take care of dental crowns as if it were just a natural tooth, unless we tell you otherwise. In general, crowns are stronger and more durable than your natural teeth, so there are fewer concerns. There are only two likely differences.

First, abrasive toothpastes can scratch some crowns, causing cosmetic problems. These can damage your natural teeth, too, and if we notice this type of damage, we might recommend a change.

The second difference is that there can be a small ridge at the edge of the crown where oral bacteria can collect. We’ll recommend that you floss carefully around your crown to prevent decay that might undermine the crown.

Dental crowns are long-lasting restorations. With proper care, expect your dental crown to last 10-15 years.