Gallardo Periodontics & Implant Dentistry of the Miami area offers premium dental care, including the most cutting-edge dental crowns to help patients preserve and enhance their smile.
What are Dental Crowns?
Sometimes called a tooth cap, permanent crowns are dental restorations that are secured over the natural teeth to function as the original tooth structure. Dental crowns for implants can replace a missing tooth altogether by attaching to the metal screw that is fixed into the jawbone. When a dental crown is designed for a patient, the tooth will match the rest of the teeth in shape and color.
Why are Crowns Placed?
A change to a single tooth can change the bite wear pattern or cause stress on other teeth. Teeth with large fillings, root canals, and damaged teeth are often weaker than intact teeth and are more prone to further damage.
Crowns offer restoration that mimics the natural structure of the patient’s teeth. This can help prevent tooth loss by simply adding a protective covering, or it can complete the tooth implant process by replacing the natural tooth above the gum line. Patients who have gum disease may require additional periodontal work prior to undergoing a dental crowning.
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Candidates for Dental Crowns
Candidates for dental crowns have either of these two conditions.
Dental Capping
Crowns are the ideal solution for dental restoration procedures when patients have experienced the structural loss of a tooth. Each tooth plays a crucial role in the mouth to distribute the force from biting and chewing and in speech.
For different reasons, like injury or prior dental work, the teeth can crack, fracture, and become eroded over time. Significant tooth decay might also necessitate crowning a tooth. A dental crown can also be performed as a cosmetic service to cover an existing tooth that may be misshapen or discolored with a more aesthetically pleasing tooth.
Tooth Replacement
Patients who have suffered tooth loss can opt to get dental implants, which consist of three components: a screw, an abutment or the attachment to the artificial tooth, and the crown. Anyone who has suffered tooth loss and seeks replacement is a candidate for a dental crown, whether as part of an implant system or within a dental bridge. A bridge typically consists of three or more crowns that are connected to provide additional area stability for one or more missing teeth.
The Dental Crown Consultation
Patients must consider the cost of the various materials
During a visit to the Gallardo dental and periodontal practice in Miami, FL, dental crowns can be discussed if a specialist recommends the treatment or if the patient is seeking a cosmetic solution to an unattractive tooth.
The dentist or periodontist may begin by reviewing the patient’s dental records and might request updated X-rays if needed. An impression of the patient’s teeth will be created so the partnering dental laboratory can create a dental crown that will fit naturally among the other teeth.
At the consultation, the patient will learn about the different types of crowns offered. The practitioner may have a preferred material due to higher success rates, but patients will also be able to provide input on their preferences. Common materials used in crowns are:
- Gold
- Porcelain fused to metal
- Porcelain/Ceramic
- Zirconia
- E- MAX (composed of a glass-ceramic)
Patients must consider the cost of the various materials, the longevity of wear, placement, and other important factors, which will all be discussed during the appointment.
The Tooth Preparation Process for a Dental Crown
Generally, the various types of dental crowns require the same preparation. A crown is customized to match the patient’s teeth, ensuring that it is undetectable in their smile.
Typically, a dental crown fitting requires two dental office visits. During the first appointment, the dentist will modify the natural tooth. The new structure (the crown) will be tooth-shaped and similar in size to the patient’s other teeth. Because of this, the damaged tooth must be reduced in size so the crown can fit over the top of it.
During the sanding process, the natural tooth is ground down to make it smaller. Typically, one-third of the tooth will be removed from each side as well as the biting surface. In some cases, there will be little or no sensitivity during this process because the nerve has been removed from the tooth (such as after a root canal) but anesthesia injections may still be provided for patients’ comfort.
After the natural tooth has been prepared, a temporary crown which is generally made of acrylic is fitted over the abraded tooth and secured with water-based glue. Usually, the dental professional will place restrictions on very crunchy or chewy foods to avoid any movement of the crown. The temporary crown should last 2-3 weeks until the permanent crown has been created to fit on top of the prepared tooth.
The Dental Crown Procedure Explained
During the second office visit, the dentist will remove the temporary crown and place the permanent crown. During the removal process, the patient’s mouth will be numbed, and the dentist might use an agent and dental instruments to remove the temporary crown.
He or she will then prepare the tooth for the final step, which is permanent crown placement. All excess glue or cement will be removed from the initial replacement, then new binding material is secured to the permanent crown and fixed into place. Heat or a light source might be used to help set the adhesive.
Possible Risks of a Dental Crown
All dental procedures carry some risks
All medical and dental procedures carry some risks, though undergoing the preparation and placement of a dental crown is considered minimally invasive. While with keeping good oral health it is unlikely that a patient will suffer an adverse reaction, the following potential complications can be discussed prior to the procedure.
- Tooth infection
- Anesthesia reaction
- Soft tissue injury
- Cracked or chipped crown
- Injury to adjacent teeth
- Aesthetic issues
Choosing Gallardo of Miami
Gallardo is a full-service dental clinic with a team of trained professionals who serve patients with expert care and the latest in dental technology. The practitioners are trained in different specialties in addition to general dentistry and can often serve as the main provider for high-level dental care. Dental crowns are one of the most commonly performed procedures at Gallardo of Miami.
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Dental Crown FAQs
General dentists are trained to prepare a tooth for a crown and to place both temporary crowns and final crowns. Some patients opt to see a cosmetic dentist for the fix if the change is very visible, like when the front teeth are crowned. The staff at Gallardo have additional training in areas like periodontics and cosmetic dentistry and can expertly cap teeth so that they are camouflaged within the rest of the teeth.
Porcelain crowns (ceramic crowns) and porcelain fused to metal are two of the most common crown types available. Porcelain is extremely durable and provides realistic aesthetics. When combined with an inner metal component, the structural strength is improved, though the tooth may appear darker in color and the metal might be visible above the gum line. With improved techniques and materials, the porcelain fused to metal crowns are a widely used option.
Patients should not experience any discomfort during the preparation for a crown, a temporary crown placement, or a permanent crown placement. The most common reason for a crown is to cover a natural tooth that has undergone a root canal. The nerve is removed from the tooth, and there will be no feeling or pain in the tooth. A local anesthetic can be injected into the surrounding tissue if necessary to ensure patient comfort.
The professionals at Gallardo of Miami can cap a tooth due to advanced decay, a fracture, following a root canal, or to improve aesthetics. A crown is also added to a dental implant for total tooth replacement, and three or more crowns can be created together to replace missing teeth in a dental bridge.
More than just “protect a tooth”, a dental crown provides a realistic-looking artificial tooth that functions like a normal tooth. It completes a patient’s set of natural teeth and provides a great smile with no gaps. Because the original tooth remains in place, the crown is anchored to the location without the need for surgery, except when it is part of a dental implant.This article was written by the staff at Gallardo Periodontics, Implant Dentistry, and IV Sedation of Miami {take the office tour}. Call 305-547-8687 to schedule an appointment for your dental crown consultation.
If you live near Miami, FL, Gallardo Periodontics and Implant Dentistry offers dental crowns among its services, and is conveniently located at 2020 SW 27th Ave Miami, FL 33145
Why choose Dr. Gallardo
- Dr. Gallardo has over 25 years of experience offering general dentistry and specialized periodontics to patients throughout South Florida.
- Graduated from the University of Miami
- Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from New York University College of Dentistry
- Accepted into the V.A. Medical Center General Practice Residency Program of the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs where he was honored with the “Outstanding Resident of the Year” Award.
- C.A.G.S. (Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study) from Boston University
- Has lectured nationally and internationally to dentists and hygienists and has been sponsored by companies such as Procter and Gamble to speak on clinical topics related to gum disease and implant dentistry.
- Dr. Gallardo remains on the leading edge of periodontics and implant dentistry through his active and past involvement with University of Florida, Florida Association of Periodontists and North American Society of Periodontists.
