Dental Crowns
Fountain Valley, CA

The teeth are the strongest substance in the human body. Despite this fact, they are not indestructible. The teeth can be faced with physical damage or decay that not only affects the appearance of your teeth but can impact your oral health as well. At Bijan Family Dental Practice, we can help to treat damaged teeth with crowns.

What Is a Crown?

When your teeth are damaged, it is essential that you schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Minor damage often only requires a small cosmetic fix, but larger damage can also put your oral health in jeopardy. For larger damage, a crown may be recommended. A crown is a cap-like structure that is made to fit over the entire visible surface of a damaged tooth. It effectively holds the tooth together, protects it, and restores normal functioning.

The Different Types of Crowns

There are a few different types of materials that are used to make dental crowns. Each material has its advantages as well as its disadvantages:

•	Metal. Metal crowns are by far the strongest crowns available. They can stand up to the strongest biting and chewing forces and are practically indestructible. While incredibly strong, they are the least aesthetically pleasing option, being silver or gold in color.
•	Porcelain fused to metal, or PFM. PFM crowns consist of a metal base with a porcelain coating. The base surrounds the tooth, providing it with significant protection. The porcelain coating helps to make the restoration appear more natural. However, a thin metal line can often be seen through the porcelain, marring its appearance.
•	Ceramic or porcelain. Ceramic or porcelain crowns are the most aesthetically appealing options. These crowns are made entirely out of ceramic or porcelain. These crowns can be stained and finished to look exactly like your surrounding teeth, perfectly restoring the appearance of your smile. Read About Custom Stained Crowns

Why Should I Get a Crown?

There are several benefits to getting a crown:

•	Crowns hold damaged teeth together, preventing further damage.
•	They protect the tooth from bacterial invasion and infections.
•	They provide strength, restoring normal functioning to the affected tooth.
•	Crowns can be used following root canal treatment to protect from reinfection.
•	Ceramic and porcelain crowns perfectly restore the appearance of your smile.
•	Crowns can anchor a bridge in place or be used to replace teeth using dental implants.

What Is the Process for Getting a Crown?

To get a crown, we first need to prepare the affected tooth. This process is done under a local anesthetic. We need to remove a portion of the tooth enamel, which reduces the size of the tooth to ensure that your crown will fit in perfectly with the rest of your smile. After the tooth is prepared, we take an impression of your mouth and send it to our dental lab. The lab uses the impression to design and create your custom crown. A second visit is then required to check the crown for proper fit and bite. If everything looks good, we cement or bond it into place depending on the type of crown.

With a crown, we can restore the health of a damaged tooth, restore its normal functioning, and restore the appearance of your smile. If you have suffered tooth damage, call Bijan Family Dental Practice at (714) 421-4494 today to find out if a crown is the right solution for you. After the procedure, you still need to care of your oral hygiene with daily brushing and flossing and dental exams and cleanings.