A dental crown can play an important role in restoring your tooth back to optimal function. If you have had a severely damaged tooth, a tooth treated with root canal therapy, or even an extracted tooth replaced with a dental implant, a dental crown can give you back that chewing function. A crown can be color-matched to give the appearance of a full, natural tooth. Think of a crown like a permanent helmet protecting a weak and vulnerable tooth. Depending on the location it will be used in your mouth, a crown can be made of porcelain, zirconia, metal, or porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM). E4D PlanScan technology allows for a crown to be created and placed in one day.
Traditionally, a dentist would create a mold of your tooth and send the mold to an off-site, third-party milling lab who would sculpt and create the crown. The process could take a week or more, and in the meantime, a temporary crown would be placed on your tooth. With E4D PlanScan technology, the creation of the crown all takes place within the office. Using CAD/CAM (computer-aided drafting/computer-aided manufacturing) technology, your dentist will take a digital scan of your tooth, mouth, and bite. These precision scans will be sent to a computer that will create a blueprint for your crown. A digital milling machine will precisely sculpt your crown based on the blueprint. Your dentist will fit and place your crown giving you the opportunity to walk out of the office with full protection for your vulnerable tooth.
Without a crown, a weak tooth is susceptible for further breakage and decay. If you are missing a tooth in the front of the mouth, a crown can visually replace it, as well as restoring biting and speaking function. The materials that make up a crown itself are not prone to decay, but oral hygiene is still very important as decay can attack the remaining tooth beneath the crown.
Call Dr. Carmona if you need a dental crown. To schedule a consultation with Austin Prosthodontics in Austin, TX, call 512-250-9444. We also proudly welcome patients from Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Leander, and all surrounding Texas communities.