Do you have worn teeth? Are worn or weakened teeth making it uncomfortable to bite and chew? Try dental crowns. Crowns are dental restorations that cover an entire tooth above the gum line.
Dental crowns can help enhance the visual appearance of discolored, chipped, or otherwise traumatized teeth.
These restorations can also rebuild worn, decayed, and damaged teeth.
Cemented onto your natural tooth, a crown effectively serves as your tooth’s new surface because it completely covers your natural tooth.
Dr. Sheryl Jenicke works with local state-of-the-art laboratories and uses CAD/CAM technology to provide strong and functional teeth with dental crown treatment in Cadillac, MI.
Dental Crown Treatment
Before dental crown treatment, we need to prepare teeth to ensure the crowns fit properly. We may recommend a filling, or we may etch the enamel to create the correct shape.
Dr. Jenicke uses intraoral scanners to take digital images of patients’ teeth to design crowns that fit the contours of their smiles. She also matches the color of the crown to the desired shade.
Dr. Jenicke uses CAD/CAM software to ensure that crowns match each patient. CAD/CAM stands for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing.
After Dr. Jenicke takes digital images of the smile, she sends these images to a dental lab. CAD/CAM software creates a three-dimensional image that allows technicians to see the teeth from all angles.
Lab technicians then design and mill the custom crowns from the 3-D model of the teeth. When the crowns are complete, Dr. Jenicke cements the crowns to the teeth and polishes them for a natural look.
Dental Crown Post-Op Care
After you receive your dental crown, we will provide you with pain medication to help you through the healing process. Any soreness should fade within 72 hours.
We will also recommend that you avoid hard or chewy foods because they can exacerbate any pain or soreness.
With the right care, dental crowns can last for many years.
Properly flossing and brushing twice a day for two minutes each day keeps the crowns bright and prevents bacterial buildup that can affect the gums and surrounding teeth.
Please let us know if you ever break your crown or if your crown feels loose.
Bacteria can collect beneath the crown and lead to decay and gum disease, not to mention that broken crowns can be uncomfortable to live with.
Inlays and Onlays
If you have weakened teeth but do not need to cover your whole tooth, we may recommend inlays or onlays. These treatments add support to decayed, worn, and damaged teeth.
Inlays cover the chewing surface of a tooth between the tooth cusps or sides. Onlays fully cover the tooth’s chewing surface and tooth cusps.
We recommend porcelain inlays and onlays because they are stronger than composite materials. Inlays and onlays also require less preparation than dental crowns.
However, like dental crowns, we customize inlays and onlays to each patient and bond them to the teeth.
Improve Your Smile Today
Are you interested in dental crown treatment? Contact our dental office for crown treatment today at 231-389-6388. You can also schedule a dental crown consultation with Dr. Jenicke on our website.
Don’t hesitate to ask us any questions you may have about restorative care or your current dental concerns. We will always be here to help you.