A dental crown is a highly durable protective tooth cap made of strong materials that cover the entire surface of the tooth. Teeth can become damaged from an array of things, be it tooth decay, dental trauma, teeth grinding, enamel erosion, or even biting down on hard foods.
This can cause chips, cracks, or even break your tooth. A crown will hold a broken tooth together and provides a strong barrier against chewing forces to prevent further damage. Crowns can even be used cosmetically to cover up an oddly shaped or discolored tooth. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
.png)
At your consultation, Dr. Hlavaty will examine the tooth to look for signs of decay. An x-ray will reveal if there is any damage to the tooth’s pulp that will require root canal treatment. Active decay needs to be treated before a crown can be placed.
Under local anesthesia, we will trim about 1.5mm from around your tooth to create room for the crown to fit over your tooth.
Digital models or impressions are taken of your teeth and sent to the lab that will fabricate your crown, using them as a mold for your custom crown.
Because it can take weeks for crown fabrication, we will need to give you a temporary crown to protect your tooth until the official crown is ready.
Once we have your official crown, the old one will be removed and we’ll cement it into place.
For the ultimate quality and fit of your dental crowns, we take impressions of your natural teeth and send them to a dental lab that is equipped with specialized tools to fabricate custom-made restorations.
You can choose from a selection of materials such as porcelain, zirconia, gold, base metal alloys, or porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, to name a few. If you are looking for a tooth-colored crown for the front of your mouth, we will use a shade guide to match the crowns’ shade to your natural teeth and the lab will use your impressions as a model for your personalized crowns.
Your crowns will look incredibly natural and blend in with the rest of your teeth. The lifespan of lab-made crowns can range from 5 to 15 years depending on materials and your lifestyle.
Digital x-rays are fast, comfortable, and safe. High-resolution images help us make more accurate diagnoses while exposing you to a fraction of the radiation used by traditional film x-rays. Most patients will get a full set of x-rays to begin with, followed by yearly checkup x-rays. However, additional imaging may be recommended one if you have a potential issue or if you have experienced a dental emergency.
Fluoride treatments are easy to add to any routine preventive visit, and are great for helping keep dental decay at bay. After your cleaning, your dentist will apply a fluoride-rich varnish or gel to your teeth, and leave it in place for several minutes before rinsing it away. Fluoride helps to strengthen your enamel through a process called “remineralization,” which works by attracting minerals like calcium and phosphates to your teeth, helping to restore their hardness and increase their resistance to acids.
Dental sealants are most commonly recommended for children who may be high-risk for tooth decay, but they’re also a great option for patients of any age who wish to protect themselves from developing cavities. A relatively straight-forward procedure, dental sealants start with the application of dental resin, usually to the rear teeth, as they have more grooves and uneven surfaces where plaque and bacteria can easily hide. A UV light will be used to cure the resin, hardening it and creating a powerful barrier between your enamel and food debris, acid, or bacteria. When applied correctly, dental sealants can last for years!
Many patients struggle with gum disease, and if left untreated, can risk losing their teeth and other problems. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, and is the only stage that can actually be reversed with deep cleanings and attentive at-home hygiene. If you have gum disease, keeping up with your regular cleanings and checkups will help you gain control over your oral health before it’s too late!
For patients with more advanced stages of periodontitis, we recommend scheduling deep cleanings at more frequent intervals, usually every three to four months. Although the effects of advanced gum disease can’t be reversed, deep cleanings, scaling, and root planing can halt the progression of periodontitis and help preserve your oral health.
Oral cancer screenings are an important part of every preventive care visit. Catching oral cancer in its early stages allows us to stop it before it spreads, and can save your life. That’s why we’ll always check for signs of oral cancer at every preventive visit.
Your dentist will examine your oral tissues, like your gums and tongue, keeping an eye out for abnormalities like lesions, lumps, discolorations. If we find anything unusual, we’ll take a biopsy and send it out to a specialist for a thorough analysis. Although oral cancer isn’t overly common, it’s important to remain proactive and consistent with your oral healthcare routine, so we can identify any issues before they become major problems.
Teeth grinding and clenching while sleeping is a common issue faced by many patients. Night guards are a great solution for this unconscious clenching, also known as bruxism. Night guards form a soft barrier that protects your teeth from damage caused by the pressure of clenching and grinding. Your dentist will take an impression or a scan of your teeth and gums to create a unique mold that will be sent to a dental lab, where your night guard will be custom-crafted. Night guards work by easing the tension in your jaw, alleviating the painful headaches and other side effects of clenching and grinding, so you can get the sleep you need and keep your teeth from wearing down.
Sports mouth guards are worn over the teeth, just like night guards. However sports guards are designed specifically to protect your smile from dental injuries that are so common when playing high-intensity impact sports. Custom-fitted sports guards can help protect athletes from oral trauma caused by collisions to the mouth, face, and head. If you play football, basketball, baseball, soccer, rugby, hockey, gymnastics, mountain biking, or other activities that put you at risk for injury due from falls, body contact, or flying objects, ask us about getting fitted for a custom sports guard today! Tailored to fit your unique smile, sports guards are comfortable, durable, and won’t stop you from playing the sports you love.
Monday - Thursday
8:00AM - 5:00PM
.png)
.png)
.png)
