Getting Crowns

We offer a variety of cosmetic dental services at the South Carthay office of Dr. Suzanne Haeri. If a patient has small cracks or chips in their teeth, we can provide ultra-thin veneers or naturally colored fillings to give them back a smile they’re proud of. But sometimes, teeth are damaged so badly that cosmetic care isn’t enough. In those cases, we provide patients with artificial crowns that we take care to ensure look and feel just as good as their original teeth. This week, we’re going to discuss the process of getting a crown and why they may be necessary.

 

Artificial crowns, or caps, replace the entirety of the outer part of the tooth above the gum line. They are used if a tooth has lost too much enamel to sustain a partial crown. Often, when a tooth is that damaged, it also requires root canal therapy to remove potentially infected pulp. Following the pulp extraction, the dentist will fill in the empty pulp chamber with a sealant, and then smooth the remaining enamel into a cylindrical abutment. An impression is then made of the patient’s mouth and sent to a dental laboratory, where a custom-fitted and colored artificial crown is fabricated out of a material such as porcelain.

 

While the permanent crown is being made, the patient will wear a temporary version. This could last for about two weeks. Once the new crown arrives at our office, the patient will be able to return to have it cemented in. Artificial crowns are vulnerable to decay, like natural teeth, and can be broken if the patient clenches their jaw in their sleep. However, with proper brushing and flossing, and with protection from night time grinding, an artificial crown can last for over ten years.

 

The dental office of Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 90035. To schedule an appointment, call 310-657-2200 or visit our website at Suzanne Haeri DDS.