Dental Crowns and Restorations in Oakland, CA
When a tooth is cracked, heavily filled or worn down, a filling alone is not always enough. A crown covers the whole tooth and holds it together, restoring both the shape and the strength you had before.
Rebuilding Teeth So They Look and Work Like New
A crown is a custom-made cap that fits over the remaining tooth. We use tooth-coloured porcelain and zirconia for visible teeth so the restoration blends with the teeth beside it, and we match the shade before anything is made.
Alongside crowns we provide bridges to fill a gap using the teeth on either side, veneers to reshape and brighten the front teeth, and tooth-coloured fillings and inlays for smaller repairs. The right choice depends on how much healthy tooth is left, which we can only judge properly after an examination and an X-ray.
- Porcelain and zirconia crowns for front and back teeth
- Bridges to replace one or more missing teeth
- Porcelain veneers for chipped or uneven front teeth
- Tooth-coloured composite fillings
- Repairs to old, discoloured or leaking restorations
- Temporary crown fitted while the permanent one is made
What a Crown Does For a Damaged Tooth
Stops It Splitting
A cracked or root-treated tooth can fracture below the gum, and at that point it usually cannot be saved. A crown binds it together and prevents that.
Restores Normal Chewing
Once the shape of the tooth is rebuilt correctly, the bite is even again and you can chew on that side without discomfort.
Blends With Your Smile
Modern ceramics reflect light much like enamel. Shade-matched properly, a front crown is difficult to pick out even close up.
How a Crown Is Made and Fitted
Assessment
We examine the tooth, take an X-ray, and confirm that a crown is the right choice rather than a filling or an extraction.
Preparation
The tooth is numbed and shaped so the crown can fit over it. Any decay or failing old filling is removed at this stage.
Impression & Temporary
We record the shape and shade and fit a temporary crown so you can eat and smile normally while the permanent one is made.
Fitting
The final crown is tried in, the fit and bite checked carefully, then it is cemented in place. Adjustments are made until it feels natural.
Looking After Crowns and Bridges
A crown cannot decay, but the natural tooth underneath it can. Decay almost always starts at the margin where the crown meets the tooth, right at the gum line, which is exactly the spot people tend to under-brush.
With good cleaning and regular check-ups crowns commonly last ten to fifteen years or considerably longer. Grinding your teeth at night is the other main cause of early failure, so if you clench or grind, ask us about a night guard.
- Brush along the gum line gently but thoroughly
- Clean between the teeth daily, including under bridges
- Avoid chewing ice and opening things with your teeth
- Ask about a night guard if you grind your teeth
- Keep regular check-ups so margins are monitored
Crown and Restoration Questions
How long does a dental crown last?
Will a crown look like my other teeth?
Crown or filling, which do I need?
Does having a crown hurt?
What is the difference between a crown and a veneer?
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Get That Cracked Tooth Looked At
A small crack treated early is a crown. Left alone it often becomes an extraction. Book an assessment at our Oakland office this week.