Dental Crowns in Rockville, MD

First things first—we’re not talking about the sort of ceramic or porcelain in your kitchen cabinet; these are medical-grade materials engineered for strength and durability. Among the benefits of using them are the ability to produce them in natural tooth colors and the fact that they present no concern for patients who are allergic to metals.

Unlike metal crowns, this type is a great option for anywhere in the mouth, since porcelain crowns can be color-adjusted to blend with your natural teeth. And the metal offers strength for biting and chewing, as well

This type of crown is made from an “alloy”—a metal made by combining other metals and metallic substances. There is a range among alloys, with the most high-end metal crowns being made from “noble” alloys, which consist 40% or more of gold, with some palladium and/or platinum and various other components, such as zinc, copper, tin and others. These are a durable option for crowning teeth toward the back of the mouth, such as molars that do a lot of chewing. Another reason metal crowns tend to be used toward the back of the mouth is their very metallic look, which people don’t often find very appealing in their smiles. 

This is going to sound involved and uncomfortable, but be assured that StarBrite dentists are well trained in the art of comfortable dentistry. Your comfort will be uppermost in mind, every step of the way. In fact, the first thing that will happen is making sure the area being crowned has been numbed sufficiently for you to remain comfortable through the procedure.

Once the procedure begins, your dentist will remove a portion of the tooth being crowned; how much will be removed depends on how much tooth your dentist determines is necessary for the crown to sit well in your mouth, and what the shape of that crowned section needs to be. 

After your dentist is satisfied with the area that has been prepared for the crown, an impression of the area where the crown will sit is taken, as well as an impression of your bite, to be sure that your crown will align with it. 

Once your dentist has made all of the careful measurements necessary, he or she will color match your tooth and send that to a dental lab, along with the measurements and impressions necessary for the lab staff to create your crown.

The last thing that happens in the first appointment is the creation and fitting of a temporary crown, to protect the problem tooth and give your other teeth something to work against until your permanent crown is delivered by the lab.

When your permanent crown has been delivered, you’ll be contacted about an appointment to have it set in place. After your comfort has been seen to by numbing the area, your temporary crown will be removed and replaced with the permanent crown. 

Your dentist will carefully check the way your new crown sits and the way it looks in line with your natural teeth; the crown may require some adjustments, for which your dentist may need to remove it and replace it several times. After that, your permanent crown will be cemented into place, the fit will be confirmed clinically and any excess cement around it will be cleaned away.

Before you and your new crown leave Appointment #2, your dentist will give you some ideas on getting used to your crown, how to work with it during your daily dental hygiene regimen and what kind of foods to keep away from it, so you can avoid damaging it and make it last a good long time.