Dental Crowns in Alexandria, VA
Tooth decay or mechanical damage weakens dental tissue and worsens oral health. Dentists from Alexandria Dentist use precision dental crowns to restore and strengthen teeth, preventing further decay.
Learn more about the high-quality dental restoration options available at our Alexandria, Virginia, practice.
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What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a cap that mimics the shape of a tooth, restoring the functionality and aesthetics of a damaged tooth. Crown placement is also common after endodontic treatment to strengthen and protect the tooth. Crowns are widely used to restore teeth with cracks, chips, or excessive wear, and can also serve as a support for a missing tooth on an implant.
Our team of dentists has extensive experience and is constantly trained in the latest techniques and technologies. They use state-of-the-art equipment for diagnosis and treatment, ensuring precision and comfort during procedures. Furthermore, they prioritize the comfort and well-being of their patients, creating a relaxing and supportive atmosphere that helps alleviate the anxiety and fear associated with dental visits.
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Types of Dental Crowns
At Alexandria Dentist, we use a wide range of materials to create crowns, including metals, ceramics, zirconia, and porcelain. Our patients can choose a crown shade that perfectly matches their natural tooth color, ensuring a superior aesthetic result. Dental crowns are classified into several main types:
Traditional
A traditional crown is a time-tested method of tooth restoration, which involves placing a cap on a damaged tooth to strengthen it. This helps restore the tooth to its original shape, size, and aesthetic appearance.
Implant-Supported
An implant-supported crown is an alternative solution where the crown is secured directly to a dental implant rather than to the natural tooth. Dental implants are a long-lasting solution that provides reliable support for the crown.
Traditional Bridge Support
Crowns are also used in the installation of dental bridges. In this case, crowns are typically placed on the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth(s), ensuring secure fixation of the bridge.
Dental crowns for front teeth vs. back teeth
- Front Teeth
When a crown is needed for a tooth visible when smiling, it’s natural to be concerned about its appearance. Fortunately, front teeth experience less chewing pressure than back teeth, allowing us to use a wider range of materials to achieve a natural appearance. For front teeth, we often prefer all-ceramic crowns made of high-quality porcelain, which closely mimic natural teeth and blend harmoniously into the dental arch. - Back Teeth
like front teeth, which primarily experience chewing pressure, back teeth are actively involved in grinding food, significantly increasing the pressure placed on them. Malocclusion, tooth displacement, and bruxism can further negatively impact crowns. Therefore, when creating crowns for chewing teeth, we recommend using the strongest and most aesthetically pleasing materials possible. Zirconium dioxide or a combination of porcelain and a metal framework are the optimal choice for molars.
Benefits of Dental Crowns
- Restoring damaged tooth structure: A crown strengthens a damaged tooth, preventing further decay and loss. It evenly distributes chewing forces, reducing the load on weakened areas of the tooth and prolonging its lifespan.
- Improved aesthetics: Crowns help conceal imperfections such as enamel discoloration or irregular tooth shape. Modern materials provide a natural appearance, improving a smile and boosting self-confidence.
- Protection from further decay: A crown creates a barrier against bacteria and acids, preventing cavities, especially after root canal treatment, when the tooth becomes more vulnerable.
- Restoring bite and chewing function: Crowns restore the height and position of the tooth, normalizing the bite, which helps prevent jaw joint pain, headaches, and digestive problems.
- Durability: With proper care, crowns can last for decades, providing reliable protection and functionality. Regular hygiene and dental visits are essential to maintain their longevity.
Insurance
Typically, if a dentist deems a dental crown necessary for medical reasons, insurance will cover some or all of the cost. When you visit our clinic, we’ll confirm your insurance details and provide you with a detailed estimate outlining the amount covered by your insurance, as well as any additional costs you may incur.
Are you a candidate for a dental crown?
To place a dental crown, it’s necessary to preserve sufficient healthy tooth tissue. Our qualified dentists in Alexandria, Virginia, will examine you and determine if a crown is right for you. A crown may be recommended for:
- Cracks, chipped fragments, or a broken tooth
- Significant decay
- Strengthening a weakened tooth
- Thinning of enamel due to bruxism
- As a final step in root canal treatment
- To restore a tooth on an implant
- As a supporting element for a dental bridge
Crowns are not only a widely used method of dental restoration but also an excellent aesthetic solution. They can correct the shape of teeth and conceal noticeable pigment spots and discolorations that don’t respond to whitening.
How crowns are placed at Alexandria Dentist?
- Assessment and Planning: The dentist examines the tooth, takes X-rays to assess its condition (including the roots), and selects a crown shade that matches your teeth.
- Tooth Preparation: Treatment of decay or root canal procedures (if necessary). The tooth is then ground down under anesthesia to create space for the crown and ensure proper occlusion.
- Impression Taking: Taking an accurate impression of the teeth, either traditionally or using digital scanning.
- Temporary Crown: Placement of a temporary plastic crown to protect the ground down tooth, maintain space for the permanent crown, prevent displacement of adjacent teeth, and maintain aesthetics.
- Permanent Crown Placement: Cleaning and finishing the tooth, cementing the permanent crown with special cement. Removal of excess cement and adjustment of the bite for comfort.
Alternatives to Dental Crowns
Dental Fillings and Bonding
To restore damaged teeth, we use gentle methods such as fillings and bonding. We use composite materials that precisely match the shade of your teeth. We use them to restore cavities caused by decay, chips, cracks, and other defects. These methods are especially effective in the early stages of dental disease, when treatment is relatively simple.
Our specialists apply a durable composite directly to the tooth surface, sculpting it to improve aesthetics and correct bite problems. After shaping the material, it is cured with a special curing lamp. The entire procedure is completed in a single visit to our clinic located in Alexandria.
Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and onlays are more durable restorations made of porcelain, polymer, or gold that are bonded into the recesses of the back teeth. Onlays, also known as partial crowns, cover a larger surface area of the tooth than inlays. They cover the cusps of the teeth and may partially extend to the crown.
The placement process, like crowns, requires two visits to the dentist. During the first visit, the tooth is prepared and an impression is taken. Then, during the second visit, the dentist installs the custom-made inlay or onlay, manufactured in our reliable laboratory.
Tooth Extraction
If a tooth has been so severely damaged that restoration with a crown is not possible, we may offer an extraction procedure. This method is used only in extreme cases when oral health needs to be restored. If one or more teeth need to be removed, we recommend performing the procedure as soon as possible to avoid further complications for your oral health.
We offer a variety of replacement options for extracted teeth, including crowns, bridges, and implant-supported dentures, as well as classic bridges and removable dentures. During your visit to Alexandria Dentist, we will develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs and budget.
Why choose us?
At Alexandria Dentist, our patients’ interests always come first. We understand that visiting the dentist can sometimes be uncomfortable, so we strive to create a comfortable and relaxing environment. Our team of friendly and attentive specialists is always happy to provide advice and support with any questions.
In addition to superior crown expertise, Alexandria Dentist offers a wide range of dental services, including dental treatment, aesthetic restoration, and implant placement. Our patients can count on comprehensive care under the walls of a single, trusted clinic.
Alexandria Dentist’s impeccable reputation as an expert in dental crown placement is backed by years of successful experience. Our use of advanced technology, premium materials, and a personalized approach to each patient has earned us the recognition of residents of Alexandria, Virginia, and the surrounding areas. If your goal is a perfect smile and restored confidence, Alexandria Dentist is the perfect solution.
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325 South Fairfax Street Alexandria VA 22314
703-255-8900
Opening Hours
Mo-Fr 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sa 9:30 am – 3:00 pm