A dental crown is a restoration that acts as a cap to cover and protect a tooth. Your dentist may use a dental crown to cover chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged teeth. Crowns also cap and complete dental implant repairs to replace missing teeth.
At Columbia Family Dental Care, Dr. Sulekha Agrawal provides dental crowns in Columbia, Maryland. She helps patients choose the best restorative dental solutions that target missing or damaged teeth. Dental crowns may act as a final restoration if you undergo a root canal, and extensive cosmetic and restorative treatments. Tooth crowns keep teeth protected from further damage or wear.
Treatment with Dental Crowns in Columbia, MD
Before your dental crown procedure, your dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums. She will determine whether or not you are a good candidate for treatment. Then, she will form a treatment plan specific to your needs. Dr. Agrawal begins treatment by preparing the natural tooth structure to hold the dental crown.
Then, she will take dental impressions of the tooth or teeth receiving dental crowns. Next she will send the specifications to a dental laboratory. In about 2 to 3 weeks, the crowns will be complete. After this, Dr. Agrawal will secure the tooth crown and ensure that it feels comfortable in the mouth.
Following your treatment, you may experience some sensitivity. This is normal and should be expected. In most cases, this side effect will subside shortly. Sometimes it may take awhile for the crown to settle properly in the mouth. Because of this, you may experience some soreness for a few days after the treatment. However, if you are experiencing a lot of pain especially while biting down, please reach out to your dentist. We can easily fix the problem.
What are Inlays and Onlays?
Inlays and onlays are partial crowns that typically consist of porcelain or composite resin. An inlay remains inside the cusps, or outer edges, on top of the tooth. Onlays extend over one or more of the cusps of the tooth. Inlays and onlays are the best options for patients who do not need to treat their whole tooth but have damage on or within the tooth cusps.
Dental Crown FAQs
Many patients may have remaining questions about dental crowns, such as:
How do I know if I’m a candidate for dental crown treatment?
Even if you have missing teeth, you can receive dental crowns that cap off dental implants and implant restorations. If you have broken teeth with the root intact, you are eligible for dental crown care. If you have a dental or gum infection and want one or more dental crowns, Dr. Agrawal will remove your infection and make sure your mouth recovers before providing dental crown treatment.
Is treatment with dental crowns painful?
We typically use a local anesthetic for a painless treatment. Most patients will not experience any pain during their treatment. We also offer dental sedation so that patients may not even remember their dental procedure. Although you may feel sore after treatment, we can prescribe pain medication for a quick and comfortable recovery.
What happens if my dental crown breaks or falls out?
Columbia Family Dental Care offers emergency dental care for patients with dental trauma. If you have an old dental crown, a fractured crown, or lost crown, we can help provide a replacement. We will check your teeth and gums to determine the best type of crown you need.
Can I get a dental crown on my front tooth?
Your dentist can place a dental crown on any tooth that needs protection including your front teeth. We can custom make each cap to fit perfectly over each tooth so that it looks natural. During the first appointment, we will take impressions of your teeth. A dental lab will use them to fabricate the crown and your dentist will secure it to the prepared tooth.
Call Dr. Sulekha Agrawal Today
Do you want a natural-looking dental restoration? Protect weak or damaged teeth with tooth crowns, inlays, or onlays. Schedule an appointment with Columbia, MD dentist Dr. Agrawal today. Contact Columbia Family Dental Care today by calling 410.730.0011.