mcallen Dental Crowns

A dental crown is, essentially, a false tooth that’s built to fit over your existing tooth after it’s been trimmed. Your crown will completely cover up your remaining tooth structure, all the way down to your gum line.
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Modern crowns are typically built out of durable, tooth-like ceramic materials, and are matched perfectly to the color of your surrounding teeth, providing a completely natural restoration.
Dental crowns are usually used to treat teeth that have been seriously damaged by an oral injury, teeth that have experienced severe decay, or infected teeth that have been treated with root canal therapy.
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In some cases, crowns can also be used exclusively as a cosmetic treatment, but this is more rare, since alternatives like dental bonding and veneers are usually better for cosmetic issues.

Dental crowns are one of the most long-lasting dental treatments available today. While the lifespan of your dental crown does depend on the specifics of your own situation, most patients can expect a lifespan of between 10-20 years for a crown.
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Premature crown loss is often caused by tooth decay, so it’s very important to maintain good oral hygiene habits if you want to maximize the lifespan of your dental crown. Eat a healthy diet and avoid sugar, brush twice a day, floss once a day, and make sure to see Dr. Munoz for a teeth cleaning and oral exam every six months.

No. The process of getting a dental crown is completely pain free. Some patients are worried that they will feel discomfort when their tooth is being trimmed to prepare for a crown, but you won’t feel a thing during the process. Dr. Munoz uses the latest numbing techniques to completely numb the treatment area and ensure you do not feel any pain or discomfort.
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In addition, we offer sedation dentistry at our office. With laughing gas sedation from Dr. Munoz, you will be less likely to feel discomfort, and you’ll feel less anxious and scared about your treatment, which ensures that you can get your dental crown in comfort at our office in McAllen.

Dental crowns are used in many versatile applications for both cosmetic and restorative purposes. Damaged teeth, such as teeth that have undergone root canal treatment or have been significantly chipped or broken, should be protected from vulnerability and further damage with the use of crowns.
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They are also used for cosmetic purposes, such as to cover up a severely discolored or misshapen tooth. Dental crowns can act as a tooth replacement in the case of dental implants. If a tooth has severe decay, it may require removing a large portion of the tooth and consist of a large filling. 

A crown may be used in this case to protect the tooth from wear and tear since most of the tooth structure has been removed. Crowns are also used to hold dental bridges in place by cementing them onto the abutment teeth and suspending an artificial tooth to fill the gap.

Dental crowns are very durable and can last for up to 20 years. However, it’s still important to take care of your teeth and your crowns to prevent damage. Keep in mind that just because you have a crown protecting your tooth from damage does not mean that it will protect the tooth from decay or gum disease.
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Make sure you practice good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth for at least 2 minutes twice a day and flossing once a day. It’s a good idea to use an antibacterial mouthwash at least once a day to ensure you’re clearing the area between the tooth and the crown of any bacteria and food particles. Visit the dentist for regular cleanings and checkups every 6 months.
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You should avoid eating hard and sticky foods as much as possible or chew them with your natural teeth. Hard foods or items can chip or break your crowns and sticky foods can get stuck in between them and possibly loosen them. 
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Do not use your teeth as tools or chew on any objects like pencils or your fingernails. If you grind your teeth at night, you should invest in a nightguard so your grinding and clenching don’t end up breaking your crown. You may also want to wear a mouthguard while playing contact sports.

The crown placement process takes place in two separate appointments. At your first appointment, Dr. Ricardo Munoz will examine your teeth and may also take x-rays to get a close look at the roots of the teeth. Dr. Munoz will look for any signs of decay, infection, or injury to the soft center (pulp) of the tooth. If there is any present damage, this will need to first be treated with a root canal.
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Preparation - You will receive local anesthesia to numb the area so you will not feel any pain. Preparation of the tooth receiving the crown will include some filing of the tooth enamel so the crown can fit over the top of the tooth. 
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If most of the tooth structure is missing, you may need to receive a filling to fill out the crown. Impressions will then be taken of your teeth via a mold or scanner and sent to an outside dental lab. They will create a dental crown based on the structure, shape, and color of your natural teeth so it will blend in. In the meantime, you can expect to receive a temporary dental crown.
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Crown Placement - Your permanent dental crown will be ready within 2-3 weeks of sending your teeth impressions to an outside dental lab. You will return to North Park Dental for a separate appointment to have the temporary crown removed and your new permanent crown will be cemented into place after checking that the crown satisfactorily matches the rest of the teeth.