Enjoy Natural-Looking Results with Porcelain Crowns

Before the latest advances in cosmetic dentistry, the options for restoring extremely damaged teeth were limited. All-ceramic crowns that produced natural-looking results were often more fragile and required frequent replacement or repair. Combination porcelain and metal crowns had the strength and resilience that all-ceramic crowns lacked, but often ruin your smile by leaving visible black gum lines. Fortunately, having to choose between looks and function is a thing of the past. Today’s 100% porcelain crowns look, feel and function just like real teeth, which is why they are highly recommended for correcting the following dental issues:

  • Badly damaged or diseased teeth
  • Missing teeth
  • Inability to eat and drink normally without pain and agony
  • Dysfunctional or damaged bite
  • Metal allergies

Considering the Advantages of Porcelain Crowns

Here at Glacier Creek Dental, we offer 100% porcelain crowns so our patients can benefit from their superior look and performance. Today’s porcelain is about as strong and resilient as natural tooth enamel, which means that these crowns can last for years with proper dental habits and hygiene. The result is a strong and beautiful smile that looks natural to the naked eye, with no one the wiser but you and your dentist.

Porcelain crowns require the same routine care as your natural teeth, which include daily flossing and brushing. Avoiding destructive habits like chewing ice and other hard items are advised, which helps maintain your crown as well as your remaining teeth. Otherwise, you can eat, drink, speak, and smile like you did before, restoring the natural confidence you need for everyday face-to-face interactions.

What to Expect from the Procedure

The process of getting porcelain crowns usually requires two visits to the office. During the first visit, the tooth is examined to assess its accurate condition, which may include digital x-rays. Sometimes, a root canal is performed first if the condition of your tooth requires it. This is done if your tooth is suffering from severe decay and the pulp may be in danger of infection or injury.

To begin the process of making your crown, the receiving tooth and surrounding gum tissue is numbed to relieve any pain or discomfort. The tooth is then filed and reshaped to make room for the new crown. If a large part of the tooth is already missing, the dentist will add filling material to create proper support for the new crown. Impressions will be made of the receiving tooth, as well as of the opposing tooth to ensure that the new crown will fit your bite perfectly. These are then sent to the manufacturing laboratory, which returns the finished crowns to your dentist within 2 to 3 weeks. In the meantime, you will be fitted with a temporary crown to wear until the next visit when you receive your permanent crown. While wearing a temporary crown, it is recommended that you:

  • Avoid eating sticky or chewy foods like gum, taffy and caramel
  • Chew on the side without the temporary crown
  • Avoid eating hard foods like raw apples and vegetables and hard candy
  • Floss your teeth sliding out rather than lifting up

During your second visit, your temporary crown is removed. The permanent crown is examined for fit and color before application. Once the fit and look is deemed satisfactory, your tooth will be numbed as the new crown is permanently bonded to your tooth. As a precaution, it is recommended that you avoid eating sticky or chewy foods during the first 24 hours after receiving your permanent crown. Once the first day has passed, you can go back to eating and drinking as you always did. Some patients may experience sensitivity to the crown or the surrounding gum area, but this is perfectly normal and should last no longer than a few weeks.

Regain Your Smile with a Permanent and Cost-Effective Dental Solution

Perhaps you’re interested in getting porcelain crowns, but are concerned about the cost and what insurance will or won’t cover. Maybe you’re unsure about your dental condition, and need more information to choose the right treatment for restoring your smile. For all additional questions and information, you can call our Fort Collins office today at (970) 267-0993.  Our friendly office staff will be happy to assist you with reserving your appointment and answering your insurance/financing questions. If you need to contact us outside normal business hours, you can also send us a contact request online below.