Tigard dentist, Dentist in Tigard, OR

Crowns

As we get a little older, our teeth begin to change and are prone to decay. There are many possible reasons for this change in your smile. These reasons can include bruxism (teeth grinding), general decay, cracked fillings, root canals, and many others. If your tooth is beyond repair with a filling, we may recommend that the best viable option to save the tooth is a full crown. The reasons for this type of restoration in a badly damaged tooth are durability, cosmetic appearance, and overall support of your chewing function.

Types of Crowns

If we decide that you are in need of a full crown, there are a few different options for the repair of your tooth. These options include a full porcelain crown, a porcelain fused to metal or gold crown, or a full gold crown. We will help you make the determination as to which of these options is the most appropriate for your situation. You can be comfortable in knowing that your new tooth will be virtually unnoticeable and will flawlessly complement the rest of your smile.

Procedure

When we have decided to go ahead with a full crown restoration, we will set aside 1-2 appointments for the entire process. This is depending on the options provided by your doctor. We have the capablitly to fabricate same day restorations. This is preventing the need for a temporary crown and an additional visit to our office. Although the majority of crowns are completed in one visit, there is sometimes a need for a second visit to ensure a proper fit.

Same day crown appointments, generally take about 2 1/2 hrs. The procedure begins with the removal of all decay in the tooth. Once we have removed the decay, it is sometimes necessary to place a "core build up" in the tooth. This will help improve the overall integrity of the crown and allow for a stronger restoration. We will then take an impression of the tooth with either our E4D machine or our impression material. The doctor or assistant will then fabricate your new restoration on our E4D computer, right by your chair! While this new tooth is created, you are able to use our restroom, read a magazine or check your email. This process generally takes about 30minutes. Sometimes this process may not produce a crown that is up to our standards. In this case we will fabricate a temporary crown that will resemble your natural teeth so that you can continue with your daily life without worrying about a missing or incompatible tooth.

Once we have fabricated your new restoration, we will try the crown on to ensure the fit is perfect. Once we are happy with the results, we will then palce your crown into our glazing oven, where the esthetics are perfected. All of our crowns are shaded to match your existing teeth. We will make every effort to ensure that the new tooth feels exactly like one of your natural teeth. The final step in the process is to cement the crown into your mouth, leaving you with a beautifully restored smile.

Make sure you ask us about the E4D machine and same day restorations!