Porcelain Dental Crowns Can Restore Your Smile and Oral Health

At Wisdom Dental of Coral Springs, Dr. Wisdom Akpaka and his associate, Dr. Mariel Petruk, offer custom tooth-colored porcelain crowns. When you come to our practice, we will provide a full consultation to determine the treatment that is uniquely suited to your needs. In this way, you can enjoy a beautiful smile and full dental health for years to come.

What is a dental crown?

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth to restore its shape, size, strength, function, and appearance. When a crown is cemented into place, it fully encases the visible part of the tooth that is above the gum line. Crowns are typically made of all porcelain or porcelain fused to zirconia. The recommended crown material is often determined by an individual’s bite and esthetic considerations.

Dental crowns have both practical and aesthetic importance. Their uses include repairing broken, cracked, decayed, or otherwise weakened teeth. A crown is used to restore a tooth after root canal therapy. An implant-supported crown can replace a missing tooth. A crown can be used as a cosmetic treatment on top of worn, internally stained or irregular shaped tooth. It also can be used to improve the force and balance of your bite to treat TMD/TMJ.

If you have a weakened tooth due to excessive wear, a crack, a large cavity or root canal therapy, a crown may be the most effective way to restore your smile and comfortable biting function. Once your crown is placed, it will strengthen the weakened tooth, appear natural in your mouth, and be made to conform to your natural occlusion for a comfortable bite. In the case of a severely diseased or broken tooth, the optimal treatment may be removal, followed by treatment with a traditional dental bridge or dental implant.

Crown Treatment

Before placing a crown, our dentist will remove the tooth’s enamel to make room for the restoration. Your tooth and gums will be numbed before this procedure. We will make an impression of your mouth and models for our partnering lab that will make your crown. Our dentist will place a provisional (temporary) crown on your prepared tooth so you can function normally while waiting for your custom crown. When your crown is complete, you will return for your second appointment. At that time, the dentist will remove the provisional crown and permanently attach your custom crown. The dentist will check to make sure your bite (the way your teeth come together) is excellent.

Choosing the Type of Crown that is Right for You

Dr. Wisdom or Dr. Petruk will recommend the type of crown that should be placed in your mouth based on where the crown will be located in your mouth and financial considerations. The dentist will design and work with our partnering dental ceramist to create a custom crown that is optimal for your mouth, both in appearance and function.

All-porcelain crowns offer the most lifelike appearance, but are not as strong as porcelain-on-metal crowns. They are usually reserved for the front teeth that show when you smile. Porcelain-fused-to-metal restorations (also called PFM crowns) have an outer coating that will match your smile. Another possibility is a newer, more expensive type of crown made of all zirconia or porcelain fused on zirconia. Zirconium crowns are very strong and lifelike. They are desirable when both durability and aesthetics are of prime importance.

All of our custom crowns are lifelike in appearance, matching the shade of the surrounding teeth. They are of the proper size and shape for a beautiful smile and comfortable bite. Because your crown will be custom fit for you, you can expect long lasting durability.

Tooth Restoration in Just Two Visits

Contact our office today to schedule your appointment. Dr. Wisdom and Dr. Mariel Petruk offer restorative treatment to patients in the greater Coral Springs area, including Tamarac, Parkland, Pompano and Deerfield Beach.