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1200 Village Creek Drive #102 Plano, TX 75093

Dental Crowns Plano TX

Do you have extensive tooth damage? Are you looking for a permanently white smile? Dental crowns are a cosmetic option we use to protect weak, worn, and damaged teeth. They can cover an implant, stabilize a tooth after a filling or root canal, and support a dental bridge. In addition, a crown may realign the bite and cover stained or discolored teeth.

Dental crowns serve as a “cap” that covers the visible portion of the tooth. Typically, this procedure aims to restore a tooth’s size, shape, and function. For this reason, a dental crown serves many cosmetic and restorative purposes.

Mark Sowell, DDS, MAGD, AACD, and Sara Chen, DMD, MS, provide dental crowns in Plano, TX, depending on your unique dental care and cosmetic needs. If you would like to explore all the benefits that high-quality dental crowns have to offer, visit our dentists’ office for a complimentary consultation.

Dental Crowns in Plano, TX: Our In-office Dental Lab

To streamline our restoration process and offer our patients the best that dentistry has to offer, we work closely with master ceramist James Chung. We are one of the few dental practices in Texas with an in-office, full-service ceramic laboratory. Our team is able to create beautifully crafted ceramic porcelain crowns and porcelain veneers faster and more personalized than ever before.

Unlike other dentists who outsource their ceramics, our practice can fabricate dental crowns with less downtime and more accuracy and precision. Same-day dentistry improves patient satisfaction and yields long-lasting and natural-looking results.

As a full-service dentist in Plano, Dr. Sowell and Dr. Chen work closely with Mr. Chung to build dental crowns in Plano, TX, that meet each patient’s cosmetic and restorative needs. They work collaboratively during all phases of the restoration creation process. We will ensure each patient’s expectations and goals are met.

What Can A Dental Crown Address?

Dental Crowns in Plano, TX 75075

We may recommend a dental crown to address the following dental concerns.

Correcting Cosmetic Flaws

Dental crowns are ideal because they have both cosmetic and restorative purposes. One of the most common problems people bring into our office is discolored teeth. Typically, professional teeth whitening is the solution to correct tooth discoloration. However, not all discoloration responds to the traditional whitening methods. Staining brought on by medication and teeth discolored by trauma require another solution.

Misshapen or disfigured teeth are also cosmetic issues in your smile. And these can have functional repercussions as well. Depending on where they’re located in your mouth, they can cause problems with your ability to speak or chew your food properly. Dental crowns completely cover the natural tooth, disguising any cosmetic problems with your teeth. We custom-make them to match the shape of your other teeth, ensuring they function properly as well.

Strengthening Your Natural Teeth

One of the most common uses for a dental crown is to stabilize a tooth after a root canal. A root canal procedure cleans out all of the infected dental pulp inside your tooth. We refill it with a biocompatible material and seal it off to prevent further infection. But the tooth isn’t always stable afterward. We want to ensure that you get back the complete function of your tooth. A dental crown provides extra stability and helps to seal the tooth further from bacteria and infection.

With a traditional dental bridge, your natural teeth anchor it on either side. They take on a lot of stress from supporting the bridge. Anchor teeth wear down faster than normal teeth and are more susceptible to tooth decay and damage. We recommend using dental crowns to fortify these teeth. Instead of the tooth taking on all of the stress of the bridge, the dental crowns do, protecting your natural teeth.

Repairing Decayed or Damaged Teeth

At our office, we practice conservative dentistry to preserve your natural tooth as much as possible. When you lose your tooth root, it has many detrimental impacts on your oral health. The jawbone starts to deteriorate, among other things. A dental crown is one of the best ways to preserve that tooth. Tooth decay eats through large portions of your tooth, but a dental crown can hold it together and keep the tooth root intact.

Breaking off a portion of your tooth is both painful and unseemly. Dental nerves are exposed, causing pain when things come in contact with it. When there are sharp edges, they can harm the soft tissues in your mouth. Dental crowns allow you to have a complete tooth again. It protects the nerves so that it isn’t painful to bite into foods. You get back the full functionality of the tooth and don’t have to worry about injuring it further.dental crowns in plano, texas

Completing a Dental Implant

Dental crowns are the most common choice to complete a dental implant restoration. It both looks and feels the most like a natural tooth. We custom-make each crown so that it meets the size, shape, and shade of the rest of your teeth. A dental crown tops one single dental implant. It gives the restoration the appearance of a single natural tooth.

Due to the preparation of the natural tooth, dental crowns are often a permanent restoration. Dr. Sowell and Dr. Chen can work with you on an individual basis to determine if a dental crown is right for your smile. Under the care of an experienced dentist, a dental crown can be a durable and natural-looking solution for many dental problems.

What Is The Process Of Getting A Dental Crown?

Depending on your case and the type of crown you need, you can receive your custom crown in 2-3 visits to our Plano, TX, dental office. If required, Dr. Sowell and Dr. Chen will remove an old dental crown, provide root canal treatment, or offer a dental filling. Our dentist does this to make sure that the tooth structure is free of infection or any other outstanding problems. In many cases, receiving a dental crown will include the following steps:

  1. Removal of tooth decay or old dental restoration if needed.
  2. For teeth that are missing an extensive amount of tooth structure, we need to prepare the tooth with a dental filling.
  3. Dr. Sowell will reshape the affected tooth so that he can place the dental crown securely on top.
  4. We will take any imaging and impressions needed to fabricate your custom dental crown. Dr. Sowell, Dr. Chen,  and Mr. Chung work together to ensure that we fabricate crowns to fit each patient precisely.
  5. Our team will fabricate your custom crown in the office at our laboratory. You may receive a temporary crown while you wait for the final crown.
  6. Dr. Sowell or Dr. Chen will cement and secure your dental crown and make any adjustments once it’s ready for placement.

It is important to practice excellent oral health by brushing and flossing your teeth every day. Dr. Sowell, Dr. Chen, and our team can work with you to discuss the best ways to care for your new smile after getting a dental crown.

Types of Dental Crowns

Though we recommend porcelain or ceramic dental crowns, there are multiple different types. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks.

  • Full Porcelain: Porcelain is the material that’s the most biocompatible. Your body responds better because it doesn’t contain metal. We recommend porcelain, particularly for teeth that are in the front of the mouth. Porcelain looks much more natural and blends in with the rest of your smile. It’s a strong and stable material that holds up to the wear and tear of your everyday life.
  • Full Metal: There are different metal alloys that can be used. A base metal crown is the least expensive but can irritate the soft tissues in the mouth. A gold crown is more expensive but is also more biocompatible. Metal crowns are extremely strong and normally recommended for the back molars. Less tooth structure needs to be removed for metal crowns, too. However, they aren’t aesthetically pleasing and can irritate your mouth.
  • Porcelain With Metal: In this crown, porcelain is fused with metal. You get the look of natural porcelain with the strength of the metal substructure. However, this restoration requires more tooth structure to be removed than normal because it’s multiple layers of material.

Dental Crown FAQs

How long do dental crowns last?

With proper care, oral hygiene practices, and routine visits to the dentist, dental crowns can last many years. You should maintain your crown just like your natural teeth. While a crown is impervious to dental decay, the outer edges of a crown can still develop decay. Metal crowns are more susceptible to this issue.

Is it painful to have a crown put on your tooth?

No. The process of placing a dental crown is not painful. We will alleviate your tooth pain during the procedure with local anesthesia. You will likely not feel pain afterward and will feel much-needed relief. Your tooth may be a little sensitive while it adjusts to the new restoration.

What can you eat with a permanent crown?

After getting a crown, we do not recommend eating very hard foods or very chewy food for a couple of days. This is to ensure that your crown remains in place immediately after the procedure. After a couple of days, you can return to your normal diet without restrictions.

Can I get a cavity with a dental crown?

Though the crown itself can’t get a cavity, your natural tooth that’s under the crown can. If the crown isn’t done properly, there can be space where bacteria and food particles can get under the crown. It’s essential that you keep up with regular oral hygiene at home and visit our office. We’ll double-check any crowns that were done previously and ensure they fit properly on the tooth.

How do I clean a crown?

You can take care of your crown the same way you would your natural teeth. Brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. It’s important that you choose a toothpaste that’s non-abrasive. Otherwise, it can damage the surface of your crown. Waterpiks can be used to clean around a dental crown, but use them gently. If you’re worried about the Waterpik damaging the cement, stick to traditional floss.

Am I a good candidate for a dental crown?

Many patients are eligible for a dental crown. We’ll do a thorough examination of the tooth and determine if it can be salvaged with a dental crown. Crowns can take care of teeth with extreme decay or damage. However, in some cases, we do need to extract the tooth. We’ll only use this course of action if there’s no way to salvage the natural tooth.

Schedule a Dental Exam & Consultation for Dental Crowns in Plano, TX

As the leading cosmetic dentists in Plano, TX, Dr. Sowell and Dr. Chen understand what it takes to build a healthy, functional smile. They work with patients on an individual basis to develop and implement personalized treatment plans that are right for them.

If you would like to learn more about dental crowns in Plano, TX, or explore some of your other options, visit our Plano dental office for the care you need. To schedule an appointment, call (972) 382-6855 or request an appointment online.