Dental Crowns on Long Island

There are several situations for which a dental crown would be appropriate. One such instance would be a weak tooth. In this particular case, when a tooth is weak and more susceptible to breaking, a dental crown can provide a protective cover.

A crown can also work to hold the broken pieces of a tooth together. As mentioned, a crown can also hide and protect a cavity that is either too big to fill or where the filling has cracked or fallen out already. It is also a cosmetic solution for chipped, misshapen, or discolored teeth.

After evaluating several factors, including the nature and severity of the crack or break, and the health of the teeth that surround the affected area, Dr. Brayman will decide whether or not a dental crown would be an appropriate treatment to get your smile back to where you want it to be.

In some cases, the tooth crown will go over a gap that has been left by a filling that has fallen out or decayed. The cavity left by the dental fillings may be too big to properly fill. As long as the root of the tooth is still intact and in good health, Dr. Brayman will most likely suggest a tooth crown as the solution for your damaged tooth.

However, sometimes a dental crown might be needed to replace a missing tooth completely. In these situations, Dr. Brayman may recommend a dental bridge. This can only work if the surrounding teeth are in good enough condition. In this case, a Zirconia crown is affixed in the space by two adjacent crowns that have been applied over the healthy surrounding teeth. To get everything to fit properly, the healthy teeth may need to be filed down, and it may be more appropriate to use a dental implant instead of a bridge.

Whatever the specific requirements, Dr. Brayman will go over all the potential options with you during your consultation.

Installing a crown in your mouth usually requires at least two appointments (at minimum). The first appointment will focus on making sure that the crown will fit and that the teeth and gums are healthy enough to support it. The technician will take several X-rays to check on the health of your gums, how stable the roots are, and to make sure there aren’t any cracks or breaks that have gone unnoticed. If the roots are in poor health, then it may be necessary to perform a root canal to be able to safely install the crown. 

During your first visit, you will be given an anesthetic in the area where the crown will be installed. This is so Dr. Brayman can file down the tooth to shape it so that the crown will fit.

Once the teeth are fully reshaped, an impression will be taken. This impression will then be used to create the permanent crown that will go into your mouth. It must be sent off to a lab to make sure that the crown is manufactured exactly to the right specifications. After all of this, a temporary crown will be installed on your teeth, and your first appointment will be over.

The second time you come in for an appointment will be several weeks later when the permanent crown has been created. We will place it on your tooth and make sure that it fits properly. We  will also ensure that it does not irritate surrounding teeth. A type of contact cement is then used to put it permanently into place.

If you are crowning all front teeth for looks, it is important to know the warning signs that your dental crowns are failing. This will help you to take steps to protect the already compromised tooth from getting further damage. So how long do crowns last on front teeth?

On average the dental crowns for the front teeth last for up to fifteen years. Some good quality dental crowns will last up to thirty years. Most dental cover insurance providers are willing to pay for a replacement of the dental crowns after five years of the initial installation. However, your crowns can last a lifetime if you take good care of them.

Just like your natural teeth, dental crowns can be affected by fractures and cavities. Therefore, you are required to take good care of them like you would your natural teeth. You should also take extra care when brushing and flossing to avoid damaging your crowned teeth. If you have all-ceramic crowns or veneers for front teeth, consider using a mouth guard especially if you are a sports person. In the instance of an impact, the guard will protect the porcelain from fractures which can lower the lifespan of your crown. Of course, the guard is removed when cleaning the teeth and when eating.

Crown replacement generally depends on the amount of tear and wear that the crown is exposed to. Common behaviors that lead to increased wear and tear include accidental trauma, tooth grinding, hard biting, and chewing. Increased dental plaque in the mouth is also likely to increase the chances that the crown will need replacement. Researchers have found that dental crowns have an average lifespan of 94 percent in the first five years and a 90 percent lifespan after ten years.

The failure rate after getting crowns on front teeth is very slim. This is because crowns rarely fail. However, certain behavior may increase the chances of their failing. Most of the common materials used for dental crowns such as porcelain, gold or porcelain on metal does not decay on its own. However, decay may set in if you have poor tooth hygiene. Incidentally, this is the greatest cause of dental crown failures. Inadequate brushing and flossing is the leading cause of crown decay. When the crown decays, you may require a root canal on top of undergoing a crown replacement.

Your dental crowns may also break easily if you expose them to high stress. The commonest behaviors that wretches crowns includes clenching or grinding of teeth. This pushes the tip of your crown against its base creating a weak point near your gum. If this habit is repeated the crown, as well as your tooth, may break way near the gum. Other habits that have the same effect as grinding and clenching of teeth include opening of plastic packages with your teeth, chewing ice and biting your fingernails.

Other factors that affect the longevity of the crown includes the type of material that was used in the manufacture of the crown, the location of the crown in the mouth and the amount of tooth that remained during the preparation procedure for crowning. The front teeth dental crowns tend to last longer than the back teeth dental crowns.

The longevity of the crowns or veneers for front teeth also depends on the way they were made. Although this is rare, if the crowns had a defect or were wrongly placed into your tooth, they are likely to fail before their estimated lifespan. For this reason, it is recommended that you have your crown installed by an experienced and skilled dentist. Such a professional will be able to give you long-lasting and crowns that look good especially if you are crowning all front teeth for looks.

A dental bridge is used to replace missing teeth. It is essentially a false tooth that is placed in a space between two natural teeth.

With a traditional bridge, the natural teeth on either side are used as the abutment to hold the false tooth in place, provided that they are healthy enough to support it. The process of installing a bridge is similar to a crown. However, with a bridge, the two supporting teeth are also covered with crowns to support the middle crown that covers the space.

A dental implant is used when there are no surrounding teeth healthy enough to support a crown or a bridge.

An implant is like a small screw that is placed into the gum. Once an implant is installed in the mouth, the crown or bridge is connected to the implant by an abutment that rests on the “head” of the implant.

Not all implant crowns are the same. There are two distinct types we can choose for your situation. They both have the same basic structure.

First, there is the implant, which is placed into the gum. It is a small titanium rod that rests in the gum and is attached to the abutment. The abutment is like a metal collar that connects the post implanted in the gum with the crown. The difference between implant types is in how the abutment is attached to the post. It can be connected permanently with cement or with a screw.

Screw-Retained Implant Crowns

With a screw-retained implant, a screw is inserted through the abutment and into the implant. This is a pretty simple process, and it makes things easier in the future.

If the crown needs to be repaired, the screw can be removed without fear of damaging anything else, and it also comes out rather easily.

There is very little risk to this, and most dentists use this technique when they are installing the crown and the implant at the same time.

Cement-Retained Implant Crowns

Cemented crowns come with no such aesthetic concerns. When installed properly, the surface is smooth and even if it is in an area that’s visible while smiling, the crown will simply look like a tooth. There is no screw involved, as the abutment is connected through a type of contact cement on the head of the implant.

The issue with cemented crowns is that if there is a problem, they can be difficult to remove. In fact, in many cases, a dentist has to drill into the crown to get at the abutment and the implant. It is possible to then repair the crown that was drilled through, but it may not look as good as it had before. Cement can also cause inflammation in the gums if there is a reaction of some kind. In some patients it even causes bone loss, so the dentist must be very cautious about who receives cemented crowns.

The decision regarding which type of implant will come down to several factors.

For one, it will depend on the location of the implant. If it is in an area where it will be visible, then a cemented crown might be appropriate. It may also depend on whether the patient is likely to have a negative reaction to the cement, or it might simply be the dentist’s preference.

Make sure that you discuss the options with your dentist, and that you provide your input as well. A crown will be in your mouth for many years, and perhaps even the rest of your life, so make sure that you are certain of the choice of implant.

One of the best things about crowns and bridges is that they don’t require any changes if you have a good dental hygiene routine.

However, if you do not have a good hygiene routine, then it will be time to start. The tooth under your crown can still decay, and you are still vulnerable to gum disease.

Make sure to brush twice a day, and floss once a day. The place where the crown and gum come together can collect bacteria, so make sure to brush well along that line. Using an antiseptic mouthwash will also help keep the crown and your mouth clean and healthy.

If you’re unsure how dental crowns will benefit you, contact Kate Brayman DDS and we will be happy to assist you with your concerns. People of all ages are welcome at our Long Island dental office including those residing in Woodbury, Syosset, Oyster Bay, Huntington, Melville, and Plainview.

Complications arising from the replacement of crowns are very rare. However, you may experience some discomfort or sensitivity. The damage to your natural tooth or the process of preparing your tooth for crowning may cause the sensitivity. Fortunately, there are types of toothpaste that help deal with the problem.

Sometimes you may experience pain while you bite. This condition is caused by the crowns being placed high into your gum. If you do experience pain, have the crown adjusted by the dentist as soon as possible to prevent the dental crown from chipping and loosening your tooth in the process. Some patients experience metal allergy and infection around the site of the dental crown. However, this condition is rare. Visit your doctor if you experience any discomfort or pain after getting crowns on front teeth.

Crowns are medical solutions to damaged or weak teeth. You can also get crowns to improve your looks. Most insurance companies pay about 50 to 60 percent of your crown replacement costs. However, the costs depend on the materials, the number of crowns installed, and amount of preparation done on your teeth. Talk to your dentist about the best methods to restore your damaged teeth.