Dental Crowns in Winter Park

Dental Crowns at The Ivory Dental

Why was I recommended a dental crown?

A dental crown procedure is performed to restore your natural tooth due to damage either from some decay (cavities) or some physical trauma that has caused a chip or a crack. A dental crown is typically the next “step up” from a typical dental "filling" to restore teeth. A dental filling is considered a Basic Restorative procedure, while a dental crown is considered a Major Restorative procedure. We will usually only recommend a dental crown when a traditional amalgam or composite filling is not sufficient to repair the damage to your tooth. Dental fillings typically restore one, two, or three tooth surfaces. Whereas a dental crown will restore all surfaces of a tooth, essentially "crowning" your natural tooth with a replacement for the look, feel, and shape to match your teeth.

What is the process for a dental crown?

At our office, dental crowns take two appointments, about 2 weeks apart. The first appointment is the longer one (about 90 minutes), where most of the procedure is performed. The second appointment is placing the finished, permanent crown and final fitment check with adjustments (typically 30 minutes).

• In the first appointment for a crown procedure, the tooth is first prepared to receive the crown. Depending on the reason for the procedure (such as large cavities, a prior root canal, or cosmetic reasons), our dentist will use her dental handpieces and burs to precisely remove only the necessary portion of your natural tooth. This is done to remove decayed or damaged tooth structure and to achieve the best surface area for the dental crown to fit with for a strong, long-lasting restoration. Depending on your specific situation, our dentist will typically provide a topical numbing jelly and a local anesthetic to prevent the feeling of pain during the procedure.

• Following preparation, we use a handheld tooth scanner to produce a 3-dimensional, digital image of the crowned tooth, its adjacent teeth, and the opposing teeth. This provides an accurate image for the dental lab to create the best-fitting and best-looking crown restoration.

• Finally, our team will create a same-day temporary crown and secure it with temporary dental cement. This temporary crown is custom-made for you and not only serves to both protect your tooth but also to retain accurate spacing between the adjacent teeth and to "train" your gums in preparation for the permanent crown.

During the typical 2-week manufacturing and quality checks for your custom dental crown – the temporary crown will help "train" your gums in preparation for the permanent crown and provide an opportunity to highlight any potential adjustments you may notice during everyday activities. For example, if the "contact" between your teeth is too tight to floss comfortably, the temporary crown will help identify that so our dentist can help make the proper adjustments. Additionally, many patients receiving dental crowns are doing so following a root canal procedure. In this case, the 2 weeks allow sufficient time to confirm that any prior lingering pain or sensitivity has subsided. If some symptoms are still present, the temporary crown can easily be removed to diagnose or retreat as needed. 

As mentioned previously, the second appointment for a dental crown entails removing the temporary crown, accommodating any minor changes you or the dentist may have noticed in the 2 weeks' preparation time, and then cementing the permanent crown.

Where will my crown be manufactured?

All of our dental crowns are not only manufactured in the USA but locally in Winter Park, Florida, by trusted dental labs. We only use premium lab services so that our patients not only have the best available restorations but also enable our team to provide the best support possible to them. All work is performed with a mix of accurate digital fabrication and skilled technicians who perform quality checks and final adjustments by hand.

What will my crown be made of?

Depending on your specific needs and the placement of the crown – our Winter Park dentist will recommend a particular material for the crown. While we only place crowns made of premium materials, all the materials have their own strengths. She will be considering the transparency and reflectiveness of the material, especially if your crown is a front tooth, which will be easily seen in closeups and photos (typically, this will be an "Emax" material crown). Additionally, if you might have symptoms of clenching or grinding teeth, she may prioritize durability for you on molar teeth to better guard against the additional stress and wear on the crown (typically, this will be a "Zirconia" material crown). 

Will my new crown match my tooth color?

Our staff are well trained in shade matching and use an array of 95CRI or higher lights to find the best match for your crowns. Sometimes, our doctor will consult you to identify if you have specific preferences and considerations when you may have differing shades on specific teeth or from upper to lower arch. Finally, in some cosmetic dentistry cases, we utilize the benefit of working exclusively with local dental labs – by scheduling an appointment for you to work directly with the dental ceramist (lab technician who is fabricating and coloring your crown) so they can try and check differing shades with you for immediate feedback. We can then work the appointment for you to have the finalized crown on, typically in a few hours that same day.

Do you offer same-day permanent crowns?

At this time, our office does not offer same-day permanent crowns. Based on the current state of in-office dental technology, we do not feel these "same-day" crowns provide sufficient patient benefits. Due to the nature of the materials, it can lead to a less aesthetic crown both in terms of shaping as well as color and shine. Additionally, a "same-day" typically would mean more chair time for you (longer appointments), often not appealing to the patient. There are also benefits of waiting (as mentioned above) the 2 weeks during lab fabrication of your permanent crown. We are, however, evaluating the latest technology of 3D printed crowns in our office as a potential same-day solution for our patients.