A dental crown is a custom-made cap that is placed over a tooth to restore its size, shape and strength. Porcelain dental crowns are made to match the color of your natural teeth. Dr. Michael Wilhite may recommend a dental crown in Davidson, North Carolina, to perform the following functions:

  • Protect a weak tooth from breaking
  • Hold together parts of a cracked tooth
  • Restore a tooth that is already broken
  • Restore a tooth that is worn down
  • Cover and support a tooth with a large filling
  • Anchor a dental bridge
  • Cover an irregularly shaped or discolored tooth
  • Cover a dental implant
  • Make a cosmetic modification

Before placing a crown, our dentist may take X-rays to check the roots of the tooth for decay. If the tooth has lots of decay, if there is risk of infection or if there is risk of injury to the tooth’s pulp, a root canal treatment may be performed. To prepare your tooth for a crown, a small amount of enamel is removed. This allows room for the crown in your smile. An impression of the tooth, and those above or below, is made so that a custom crown can be constructed. When the crown is ready, our dentist will check the fit and color of the crown. Any necessary adjustments are made and the crown is permanently cemented into place.

Dental crowns can be made from different materials, and two of the most common types of crowns are all ceramic porcelain crowns and porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crowns. Our dentist and team use all ceramic porcelain crowns because the lack of metal in the restoration is better for overall health and creates a long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing crown. PFM crowns can lose their natural-looking appearance over time due to jaw clenching or receding gumlines causing the metal underneath the appear in your smile. All ceramic porcelain crowns can retain their pleasing appearance for a lifetime, and they make the tooth look brighter and more natural.

To learn more about all ceramic porcelain dental crowns, please call Davidson Cosmetic & Family Dentistry today at 704-987-2277 and schedule an appointment!