Do I Need a Dental Crown?

When considering restorative or cosmetic care, you want to find the right treatment that fits your specific needs. If you’re looking for dental care to renew your smile’s full function and appearance, dental crowns may be the right option. We provide dental crown treatment in Wayne, PA, for patients with damaged and worn teeth. Crowns can also secure dental implants and dental bridges that replace missing teeth.

Answering Questions About Dental Crowns

Dental Crown Questions in Wayne, PA

Many patients have these questions when they’re considering treatments like dental crowns:

Am I a candidate for dental crown treatment?

Dental crowns can address various restorative dental issues, including worn or weakened teeth, large dental fillings, and damaged teeth. Tooth crowns may be a good fit if you have one or more of these problems. We will examine your smile in our office to determine if a dental crown suits you.

What are dental crowns made of?

Traditional crowns are made of amalgamated metals or gold. While these crowns are durable, they stand out, even if they are placed in the back of the mouth. Porcelain crowns are more aesthetically pleasing than metal crowns and they can also provide durability.

How do you clean a dental crown?

You can clean your dental crown just like a natural tooth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and floss daily to prevent bacterial buildup on your crown and the gums surrounding your restoration.

Do I need a filling or a dental crown?

A filling seals a tooth after addressing a cavity. Like porcelain crowns,  fillings are also made of tooth-colored materials. However, fillings only address the inside of the tooth and the tooth’s surface. Crowns will fully cover teeth like a cap. We will also typically recommend a crown after a filling if patients have weakened teeth or large dental fillings. Our office may recommend a filling for damage within the tooth while we can address decay on the outside of the tooth and restore the tooth’s structure with a crown.

Are there alternatives to dental crowns?

Inlays and onlays, also known as partial crowns, cover smaller areas of damage. An inlay covers the chewing surface of a tooth, between the tooth cusps or sides. Onlays cover the top of the tooth, including the tooth cusps. Another option is dental bonding treatment, which uses malleable, tooth-colored materials to cover tooth fractures, chips, and cracks. If patients do not have extensive damage, we may recommend bonding. Veneers are another option that improves the smile’s aesthetics for patients with discoloration and damage. Dental veneers are shell-like treatments that we apply to the teeth in the smile line.

Do you have more questions for our office about dental crowns? Call Wayne Family Dentistry at 610-347-5133. You may also schedule a dental appointment with us online. We’re here to help you find the right restorative treatment for your smile.