You may have heard of a crown and thought of royalty, but this isn’t the only type of crown available. At Gentle Dentistry, we provide restorations called porcelain dental crowns, which are restorations made to cap a natural tooth and offer an extra layer of protection and strength to an otherwise weakened or susceptible tooth. Dr. Loc Tong and Dr. Angela Rasmussen of Gentle Dentistry in Tampa, Florida, are here to help with restorations such as dental crowns.
What Is A Dental Crown?
A porcelain crown is a restoration made to cover a tooth. It has the advantage of looking exactly like the tooth it is protecting, as crowns can be created to match the patient’s existing teeth. That allows the dentist to perfectly color-match the crown to the patient’s smile and keep the crown from looking significantly different than the rest of the smile for seamless integration. When placed correctly with appropriate adjustments, it will also mimic your current bite. By providing a natural look, there is little evidence of even having dental work completed.
Why Porcelain Crowns?
Porcelain crowns are a much better choice for patients, especially those who may have a metal allergy. Because they do not contain any metal, no adverse reactions can occur.
They are also far more aesthetic and natural-looking than older generation crowns. With proper care, patients will find that their porcelain crowns will last many years, even a decade or more for many of our patients.
How Do I Care For My Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns do not require any more care than the rest of the teeth. Patients who brush, floss, and visit their dentist regularly will only have minor issues with their crowns. Patients who have been diagnosed with conditions such as bruxism, however, that can cause clenching and grinding of the teeth, may want to ask about wearing a mouthguard at night to protect their dental crowns and other teeth from unwanted damage.
Do Porcelain Crowns Stain?
Absolutely not! The porcelain used to create our dental crowns is not porous like natural tooth enamel, and therefore, maintains its original shade and color from the day it was placed. Natural teeth, however, are susceptible to staining.
Ready to work with the team at Gentle Dentistry? In Tampa, Florida, Drs. Loc Tong and Angela Rasmussen have helped many patients strengthen their smiles with porcelain caps for their teeth. If you are considering porcelain crowns or other dental restorations, call our office at (813) 734-7102 and visit us at 3500 East Fletcher Avenue, Suite #221.
Case Samples
Esthetic Crowns
- Patient presented to the office after years of neglect from energy drinks, soda, and coffee and wanted to change his smile.
- Cavities were excavated, and teeth were prepped for crowns. Patient “test drove” temporary crowns for a few weeks.
- Patient was extremely happy with his new smile and vowed to take care of his teeth.
Esthetic Crowns
- The patient presented to the practice stating he wanted to improve his smile as a surprise for his daughter’s wedding. He was a former hockey player and had suffered from trauma for many years, which left him feeling very self-conscious about his smile. He purposely tried not to smile too big.
- During his visit, it was observed that the patient had missing teeth, attrition due to clenching and grinding, and generalized spacing.
- A quick and brand new smile just in time for his daughter’s wedding.