Crowns
“Dr. V is the best dentist I have ever visited. She is gentle and does great work. My crown looks just like any other tooth; the color is perfect,” says one of many satisfied customers of Dr. Patricia Van Kooten, DMD. Dr. Van Kooten, with Lighthouse Family Dentistry in Monterey, California, specializes in affixing crowns and bridges. Once she finishes her work, you’ll have a beautiful new smile and can enter the social scene with confidence. Contact our office for an appointment with Dr. Van Kooten today for a crown procedure that will restore your smile and your confidence.
Crowns Q & A
What is a dental crown?
A dental crown is a covering that fits like a cap over a tooth that has been filed down due to disease or wear and tear. The crown restores the shape, size, and strength of the tooth so that you once again have a beautiful smile.
Why do I need a crown?
Crowns are used to:
Restore a broken tooth
Support a cracked tooth
Support a tooth with a large filling
Support a dental bridge
Cover a misshapen tooth
Cover a dental implant
What happens during a crown procedure?
Dr. Van Kooten takes X-rays of the tooth to ensure that the root of the tooth is healthy and can support a crown. Next, she numbs the entire area around the tooth to ensure that you do not feel any pain during the procedure. Next, she files down the tooth that is getting the crown so that it fits underneath the crown. If the tooth has extensive decay or part of the tooth is missing, she uses a material to fill the empty space.
She then makes an impression of the tooth and the teeth above and below it to ensure that you maintain the proper bite once the crown is in place. Dr. Van Kooten selects a color for the tooth that matches the surrounding teeth. Technicians at a dental lab will manufacture the crown, and that process takes about two weeks. Dr. Van Kooten will make a temporary crown to protect the tooth while your permanent crown is made.
During the second visit, Dr. Van Kooten removes the temporary crown and gently checks to see if the permanent crown fits correctly. She then numbs the tooth and puts the new crown in place with permanent cement.
What type of material is the crown?
Crowns come in a variety of materials--some are metal crowns or porcelain fused to metal, porcelain crowns, zirconia crowns, or porcelain fused to zirconia crowns. Dr. Van Kooten uses porcelain crowns because they provide the best color match to other teeth and are suitable for everyone. Some people have allergies to metal; using porcelain crowns avoids allergic reactions.