Dental Crowns at Chemung Family Dental

Usually two. At the first, we prepare the tooth and fit a temporary crown. At the second, we fit and cement the permanent crown made by a dental lab.

The first visit is the longer one, because it includes numbing, shaping the tooth, and making the temporary. The second visit is usually shorter. We will tell you how long to plan for when we schedule.

Most crowns are made of tooth-colored ceramic. Dr. Dunn recommends the material that suits the tooth, your bite, and how much the crown will show.

Many last well over a decade, and plenty go considerably longer. Longevity depends on your bite, whether you grind, gum health, and how well the underlying tooth holds up. Grinding is the single biggest factor we see.

The crown is shade-matched to your surrounding teeth, so it blends in with your smile.

The appointment is done under local anesthetic and should not be painful. Afterwards some tenderness in the gum and mild sensitivity for a few days is normal. Pain when biting after the numbness wears off usually means the bite needs a small adjustment. Call us; it is a quick fix.

Not necessarily. A crown covers a tooth; a root canal treats an infected or dying nerve inside it. Some teeth need both, some only a crown. We assess the nerve before recommending anything and explain what we find.

With the temporary crown, avoid sticky or very hard foods and chew on the other side when you can. Once the permanent crown is cemented, you can eat normally after the numbness wears off.

Call us. A crown that sits even fractionally high will feel wrong and can make the tooth sore. Adjusting it takes a few minutes and there is no reason to live with it.

Cost varies by material, which tooth, and how complex the case is. Most dental plans cover a portion when the crown is medically necessary, such as large decay, a fracture, or after root canal treatment. We verify your specific coverage and give you a written estimate before treatment begins.

Yes, but tell us, because it changes the plan. Grinding shortens the life of any restoration. We will usually recommend a nightguard alongside the crown, and it is far cheaper than replacing crowns you have cracked.

There is a point where not enough sound structure remains to hold a crown. In that case we discuss extraction and replacement rather than placing a crown we expect to fail. We would rather have that conversation before you have spent the money.