What Are Dental Crowns?
What Are Dental Crowns?
When a tooth is worn down or damaged, it may be saved with a crown. Sometimes referred to as caps, dental crowns are custom-made to cover and restore the affected tooth and are colored to blend with your natural teeth for an attractive finish. At Weller Dental in Chicago and Hinsdale, IL, a crown can treat tooth decay, strengthen a damaged tooth, hold a cracked tooth together, or mask discoloration.
Our dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Weller, creates custom crowns in a variety of materials to meet your goals, including metal, porcelain, and metal-covered porcelain. Most crowns at Weller Dental are made metal-free using the strongest, most up-to-date materials on the market. Make an appointment with Dr. Weller to learn how a custom dental crown can repair or strengthen a damaged tooth while also enhancing the overall appearance and health of your mouth.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are one of the most common and popular restorative dental treatments at our Chicago-area office. Dental crowns offer both restorative and cosmetic benefits. They are often necessary to restore broken-down old fillings, treat fractured or chipped teeth, and be used following root canal therapy. They can also be used to improve the appearance of natural teeth that are malformed, mispositioned, or discolored. Below is a list of the benefits dental crowns can offer our patients:
- They protect a weak tooth from decay
- They hold together parts of a cracked tooth
- They strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure
- They restore a broken tooth or one that is worn down
- They cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t a lot of tooth left
- They hold a dental bridge in place
- They cover a misshapen or discolored tooth or a dental implant
- They make a cosmetic modification
Am I A Candidate for Dental Crowns?
A crown may be wanted or needed in several different ways. They may be placed to cover a decaying tooth to prevent it from chipping, or they may hold together an already cracked tooth. Dental crowns may also cover a worn-down or loose tooth. They may be used to strengthen a tooth with extensive decay that will not take a tooth-colored filling, serve as part of a dental bridge, or hide discolored or misshapen teeth. Crowns may be glued over your tooth or connected by an implant.
The crown’s material is chosen with consideration of where it is being placed. All Porcelain crowns are as strong as those fused to metal (PFM) used in the past. We can still utilize porcelain over metal if a patient prefers, but this is not the norm at Weller Dental. Ceramic or porcelain crowns are often selected for most teeth in our practice and are custom-made to match the shape, size, and color of your teeth. In your consultation, Dr. Weller will explain your choices and help you choose the best dental crown for your budget and needs.
Plan Your Procedure
from $2150
2 Hours
1 Hour
3 Weeks
How Are Dental Crowns Performed?
Weller Dental has helped many men and women improve their oral health and appearance through our exceptional cosmetic and restorative treatments. Dr. Weller has extensive experience with dental crowns in Hinsdale and Chicago and provides personalized care to deliver satisfying results.
We offer various types of dental crowns, including all-porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal, and all-metal crowns to suit your needs. Dr. Weller will assess your oral health and/or cosmetic needs to help you make the right choice. Our dental crowns are fabricated at a professional dental laboratory to ensure the best quality. Dental crown procedures normally require two visits:
- During your first visit, the tooth is prepared for the crown, an impression is taken, and a temporary crown is placed over the prepared tooth.
- At the subsequent visit, the temporary crown is removed, and the final crown is fitted, adjusted, and cemented into place.
- Once set, Dr. Weller can adjust the crown’s fit so it is comfortable. Dental crowns look and function like your real tooth. They are built to last for years and can improve your dental health while delivering an aesthetically pleasing result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental crowns can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years on average, depending on factors such as oral hygiene, regular dental check-ups, and the material used for the crown. Following the placement of your crown, our team will discuss the most appropriate dental crown care instructions to help you preserve your new dental restoration for as long as possible.
Modern dental crowns are designed to closely mimic the appearance of natural teeth. They are customized in terms of color, shape, and size to blend seamlessly with the surrounding teeth, making them nearly indistinguishable in most cases.
Yes, dental crowns are commonly used to restore and protect individual teeth. Whether it’s due to decay, damage, or cosmetic reasons, a single dental crown can be placed to address specific tooth concerns and can be matched to the adjacent teeth for a seamless look.
Unless sedation was used, you will be able to leave our office once the procedure is done and continue your daily activities. Dr. Weller or a member of his team will teach you how to care for your dental crown, including which foods to avoid and cleaning methods.
During your yearly examinations at Weller Dental, Dr. Weller will evaluate your dental crown and adjust it to keep it comfortable. During your routine dental cleanings, your dental crowns will be examined and cleaned just like any other tooth. With a good at-home dental routine and consistent in-office dental check-ups, your dental crowns should last for years to come.
Depending on your insurance coverage, a portion of your treatment costs may be covered by your provider. After contacting your insurance carrier, we can calculate your remaining costs. At your consultation, Dr. Weller will help you select the best crown material to suit your needs and budget. A member of our financial team can also talk with you about payment methods along with financing to help make your procedure more affordable.
Restore Your Smile
Dental crowns can help restore the shape, size, and strength of your teeth, as well as enhance your overall appearance. Teeth impact your oral health as well as your smile and facial appearance. It is the first thing people notice when you speak. If you are looking for a long-term solution to weak, chipped, or broken teeth, this might be exactly what you need.
Talk to Dr. Weller about how a dental crown can protect your tooth from further damage and help keep your other teeth healthy. Offering a range of materials to suit your needs, a customized crown can blend with your teeth for a beautiful smile. Contact our team in Chicago or Hinsdale, IL, to make an appointment with dentist Dr. Weller.
