General Dentistry

A Top Rated Dental Practice Serving Virginia

Dental Crowns Specialist in Falls Church, VA

Crowns and bridges are a means to restore damage to teeth or to replace missing teeth. A crown, also known as a “cap”, covers the surface of a tooth that has experienced a considerable degree of damage. This functions to strengthen the tooth and also considerably improves the alignment, shape and overall appearance.

Crowns serve a variety of purposes, including the following:

Replacing a considerably sized filling in a tooth with very little remaining natural tooth structure
Reinforcing a weaker tooth from becoming fractured
Completely restoring a tooth that is fractured
Attaching a bridge inside the mouth
Covering and concealing a dental implant
Covering a tooth that appears to be misshaped or discolored
Covering a tooth that has experienced root canal treatment

The Functionality of Bridges

A bridge may be utilized to fill noticeable space where teeth are missing. A bridge contains one or more artificial teeth cemented into place using the surrounding teeth for stabilization. Missing teeth are resolved often by this method. Bridge function both cosmetically and functionally. The materials used include gold alloys, porcelain bonded to a metal alloy or Zirconia, or a special ceramic material made to match the color of your teeth. Choice of what material is used depends upon the particular requirements for the space needing to be filled by the bridge.

Health Concerns Regarding Missing Teeth

It is crucial to one’s complete health for missing teeth be replaced immediately. The teeth surrounding the gap begin to shift inward if not treated immediately by a dentist. Due to the fact that teeth use each other for support in the mouth, each tooth is crucial for alignment and stability of the others. Spaces can deteriorate the bite due to pressure changes, and can eventually lead to further problems — such as TMJ — with the jaw.

Treatment Procedure and Materials

Traditional Bridges and crowns are formed by the dentist taking an impression of your mouth. Afterwards, the impression is sent off to a lab where the crown or bridge is customized to fit your mouth and match the color of your teeth. Temporary crowns and/or bridges may be utilized temporarily until the final versions return from the lab. When they arrive, the temporary crown or bridge will be removed and the permanent counterpart will be cemented into place.

It is important to note that bridges and crowns are highly durable and have the potential to last a lifetime, depending upon general care. If the patient maintains good dental hygiene, he or she should not encounter further issues with this treatment.

Virginia Dental Crowns

A dental crown, which may also be referred to as a cap, is a prosthesis that is used to restore a tooth. The size, color and shape of the crown is customized so it closely resembles the patient’s natural tooth. In addition, this prosthesis adds strength and durability to the damaged tooth. A crown is also used to replace the missing tooth after dental implant surgery as well as following a root canal. Since the Dental Crowns used today closely resemble real teeth, Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael J. Paesani, who specializes in Dental Crowns, can provide his patients with beautiful, natural-looking results. Dr. Paesani is a top-rated cosmetic dentist in Virginia who offers a variety of general and cosmetic dental services at NOVA Dental Studio in Falls Church, Virginia.

Dental Crowns at NOVA Dental Studio in Virginia

When a tooth sustains damage due to disease, an injury or because of decay, if Dr. Paesani is unable to restore it with composite bonding or a filling, he will either need to pull the tooth or restore it with a dental crown, which is a custom-designed, permanent restoration.

Once Dr. Michael Paesani cements the patient’s crown in place, it encases what remains of the visible portion of the natural tooth, thus, protecting it and eliminating the need for its extraction. In addition, when a tooth is missing and a patient chooses to have a dental implant placed, a crown is used to replace the missing tooth.

Custom-Designed, Natural-Looking Dental Crowns in Virginia

Years ago, the only Dental Crowns available consisted of metal. Although metal crowns perform the same function as today’s modern, natural-looking Dental Crowns, since caps are made of metal, once in place, they are readily apparent. While metal caps are still available, teens and adults usually want the most natural-looking result, which is why they opt for the modern, realistic-looking Dental Crowns. Nonetheless, the metal crowns are still used regularly to protect a damaged primary tooth until the secondary tooth beneath it erupts.

Permanent crowns are created using a variety of materials:

When Dr. Michael J. Paesani creates a customized dental crown for a patient, he chooses a shade of white that blends in with the patient’s natural teeth. To ensure the patient’s permanent crown fits comfortably and looks natural, after he treats the tooth (e.g., root canal, cavity removal, etc.) Dr. Paesani takes a dental impression for the lab to use as it creates the patient’s custom-designed dental crown.

What is the Difference Between the Types of Dental Crowns Available?

A permanent crown can consist of stainless steel, metal (e.g., gold or some other alloy), porcelain, ceramic, resin or porcelain that is fused to metal.

Stainless-Steel Dental Crowns at NOVA Dental Studio in Virginia

A stainless-steel crown may be used to protect a secondary tooth that has been prepared for a permanent crown. The temporary crown only remains in place for a couple weeks and is then replaced with the custom-designed permanent crown.

Stainless-steel Dental Crowns are also used for children. Dr. Paesani places a dental crown over a primary tooth that has been treated (e.g., cavity removal, etc.) and prepared for placement of a crown.

The stainless-steel crown covers the entire primary tooth, thus, protecting it from sustaining any more damage. Once the child’s secondary tooth starts to emerge, the crown will come out with the primary tooth it is attached to. Dental Crowns that consist of stainless steel are used for children because these crowns only require one visit. In addition, these crowns are more cost-effective.

Metal Crowns

The types of metals used to create Dental Crowns include alloys with a high content of platinum or gold, or base-metal alloys (e.g., nickel-chromium and cobalt-chromium, etc.).

When it comes to wear, metal crowns tend to withstand chewing and biting forces well. If compared to the other crowns available, these probably last the longest. Metal crowns rarely break or chip, however, the visibility of this crown and its cost (e.g., a crown made of gold, etc.) are the main drawbacks. A metal dental crown may be a good choice for molars in the back of the mouth.

All-Porcelain or All-Ceramic Crowns

These crowns are considered the best cosmetic choice because they can provide the patient with a natural-looking result. The ability to match the color of the patient’s natural teeth with porcelain and ceramic surpasses what can be achieved with the other materials used to create permanent Dental Crowns.

People who have metal allergies are usually good candidates for crowns that consist of all ceramic and all porcelain.

Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns

These Dental Crowns are a good option for any tooth. In addition, this is the type of crown used when creating fixed bridges because the metal offers additional strength. Moreover, unlike the all-metal Dental Crowns, Dr. Paesani can match the color of this dental crown to the patient’s natural teeth. However, just as with any other type of crown, there are some drawbacks associated with porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.

The porcelain-fused-to-metal Dental Crowns do tend to cause more wear on the opposing teeth than the crowns that consist of resin and metal do. In addition, although these crowns are very strong, there is a possibility that the porcelain part of these Dental Crowns can sustain damage (e.g., chip or break, etc.).

Although the porcelain-fused-to-metal Dental Crowns look like the natural teeth, there are times when the underlying metal can be seen. When visible, the metal looks like a darkening at the patient’s gumline. Furthermore, if the gums pull away from the teeth (i.e., recede), the metal becomes more evident.

All-Resin Dental Crowns in Virginia

These crowns are less expensive than the other options available, however, crowns made of resin tend to wear down quicker. Additionally, these crowns are more likely to fracture than the porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are.

Since Dental Crowns can be created from a variety of materials, Dr. Paesani considers several factors when choosing the material for a patient’s dental crown.

How Dr. Michael Paesani Chooses Which Type of Dental Crown to Use

Dr. Paesani uses a variety of factors when considering which crown will serve a patient best.

These factors include the:

Location of the tooth.
Amount of tooth that will be visible when the patient smiles.
Function of the tooth needing the dental crown.
Position of the patient’s gum tissue at the location where the crown will be placed.
Color of the teeth that will surround the crown.
Amount of natural tooth that remains.
Covering a tooth that has experienced root canal treatment

Patients should feel free to speak with Dr. Paesani about their personal preferences.

Why Would Someone in Virginia Need a Dental Crown?

Besides enhancing the visual appearance of a tooth, a crown protects it from sustaining further damage.

Dental Crowns are used for a variety of reasons, however, here are four of the most common scenarios:

Following a Root Canal:- If a tooth becomes irreparably infected or decayed, Dr. Michael J. Paesani usually recommends that the patient have root canal therapy. After performing the root canal, Dr. Paesani uses a dental crown to strengthen what remains of the natural tooth.
When a Tooth is About to Fracture or Break:- If the structure of a tooth is at risk, Dr. Michael Paesani may use a crown to strengthen it. Since Dental Crowns are designed to strengthen and protect the teeth, he will use a crown on a tooth that is fractured or cracked. A cracked or fractured tooth can be painful. However, once the tooth is protected by a dental crown, the patient’s pain dissipates.
To Address Cosmetic Issues:- When a tooth has become discolored, sustained damage or has a large, visible filling, Dr. Paesani can restore it with a crown.
Following Dental Implant Placement:- An implant with a crown is a permanent restoration that provides the patient with a brand-new tooth, root and all. The implant post serves as the root of the missing tooth and the dental crown replaces the visible portion. Once the crown is in place, the patient can chew normally.

At NOVA Dental Studio in Falls Church, Virginia, Dr. Paesani also uses Dental Crowns to:

Add support to a tooth that has a large filling.
Use as an anchor for a fixed bridge when the natural teeth on either side are missing.
Strengthen a weak tooth.
Add length to a worn-down tooth.
Close spaces between the teeth.
Reshape or rotate a tooth.

Stainless steel Dental Crowns may be used in pediatric dentistry to:

Address primary teeth damaged by injury or decay.
Save a primary tooth that has suffered an extensive amount of damage due to decay.
Decrease the number of times a child needs to have general anesthesia.
Provide protection for a child’s tooth when he or she is at an increased risk for developing cavities.
Protect the teeth of a child who has problems caring for his or her teeth with a daily oral hygiene regimen.

What is the Difference Between Permanent Dental Crowns and Temporary Dental Crowns?

A temporary crown protects a tooth that has been prepared for a permanent crown while the custom-designed permanent crown is created. Since a temporary dental crown is only used for a few weeks, they are created using materials that are less expensive than those used to create a permanent crown. Whereas, a permanent crown is made using resin, ceramic or porcelain, the temporary consists of metal or acrylic.

Custom-Made Permanent Dental Crowns Require Two Appointments

Although it takes two appointments to create a custom-designed crown, patients are typically thankful because the crown protects the damaged tooth and relieves the pain associated with a fractured or damaged tooth.

What to Expect During the First Appointment for a Dental Crown

Dr. Paesani examines the patient’s teeth. During this appointment, he may also take X-rays. Once Dr. Paesani determines that a permanent crown is the solution for the dental problem a patient is experiencing, he addresses that issue (e.g., placing a filling in a large cavity, etc.) before beginning the dental crown process.

Once Dr. Michael Paesani has completed addressing the issue at hand, he can begin the first phase of the dental crown process. During this process, patients receive two Dental Crowns, a temporary crown and a permanent crown.

Patients receive medication to numb the treatment area.

Dr. Paesani prepares the tooth for dental crown placement by filing it down. Once this preparation phase is complete, Dr. Michael J. Paesani creates the impressions that are used to make the patient’s permanent crown. He also creates an impression to create the patient’s temporary crown.

Creating the Impressions

Dr. Paesani takes an impression of the tooth receiving the dental crown as well as a bite impression. The bite impression mold is used to ensure that once the crown is placed, the patient’s teeth meet in such a way as to provide optimal chewing and biting ability.

Prior to placing the temporary dental crown, Dr. Paesani chooses a color for the permanent crown that matches the patient’s natural teeth.

The impressions and color information are sent to the dental lab. At the lab, a plaster cast of the impressions is created and then used to make the patient’s custom-fit dental crown.

Applying the Temporary Dental Crown

After creating the impressions and choosing a tooth color, a temporary crown is created and cemented to the tooth. The cement used to apply the temporary crown is not nearly as strong as the cement used to apply the permanent one. However, this temporary cement usually holds up quite well until the lab sends the patient’s permanent crown to NOVA Dental Studio in Falls Church, Virginia.

Removing the Temporary Crown and Applying the Permanent One

Once the patient’s permanent dental crown arrives at NOVA Dental Studio, the patient returns to the office.

The patient receives medication to numb the treatment area.

After removing the temporary crown, Dr. Paesani cleans the patient’s tooth and gums. He installs the permanent crown using a very strong dental adhesive.

Caring for a Temporary Dental Crown

Since the adhesive used for temporary crowns is not as strong as the one used to place a permanent crown, patients should be gentle during this phase of treatment.

Be gentle while brushing and instead of pulling the floss upward, pull the dental floss out from the side of the temporary crown. Pulling the floss upward could cause the temporary dental crown to become dislodged.

While rare, if the temporary crown falls off, call Dr. Paesani’s office at (703) 237-7725. He can reglue it or, if the patient’s temporary crown is damaged, Dr. Paesani can create a new one.

Caring for a Newly Placed Permanent Dental Crown

The longevity of a permanent crown depends on how well the patient adheres to the care tips listed below.

For the most part, post-procedure tips are rather obvious:

Avoid foods that can damage the dental crown:- – these foods include nuts, chewy foods and hard foods. These foods include caramel, taffy and hard candy.
Wear a night guard:- patients who tend to grind or clench their teeth subconsciously as they sleep (i.e., bruxism) should wear a mouthguard during this time. Repeated grinding and clenching wears down the teeth. In addition, the dental crown may loosen due to the back and forth motion performed while grinding one’s teeth. A mouthguard can provide some protection.
Prevent gum disease:- – maintaining a regular dental care routine that includes brushing and flossing can prevent the onset of gum disease and tooth decay.

Choosing a Dental Professional

While properly caring for a crown is essential to its longevity, the fit of the dental crown is also a vital aspect in relation to how long it will last. For this reason, choosing a dental crown specialist to perform this treatment is critical to ensuring its longevity.

An improperly fitting crown can allow bacteria to build-up beneath it, eventually leading to decay of the tooth it is protecting.

How Long Does a Dental Crown Last?

Typically, porcelain fused to metal crowns and gold crowns offer the longest lifespan whereas, the all ceramic and all porcelain crowns have the shortest lifespan.

Factors Affecting the Lifespan of a Crown

A dental crown can last a lifetime however, its longevity depends on the material from which the crown is created, the patient’s lifestyle, dental hygiene practices and the dentist’s expertise.

Potential Complications and Risks Associated with Dental Crowns

While a crown can solve a significant problem, as with all procedures, there are complications and risks that need to be considered.

Possible risks and complications include:

Tooth sensitivity:- this sensitivity can occur with temperature variances. If sensitivity is present when pressure is applied to the tooth while biting down, the fit of the crown may just need to be adjusted.
A loose crown or a crown that has fallen out:- – if a crown is loose or has fallen out, it can easily be resecured.
Chips:- – all porcelain crowns are more likely to chip than the other types of crowns available. If a crown chips, Dr. Paesani may be able to fix it. Please call his office at (703) 237-7725 to schedule an appointment.
Gum disease:- – if a patient notices the gingival tissue around the crown is irritated, inflamed or bleeds easily, gingivitis or gum disease may be developing. Patients who notice these symptoms should contact NOVA Dental Studio at (703) 237-7725 to schedule an appointment.
An allergic reaction:- – while uncommon, it is possible for a patient to have an allergic reaction to the metal that is used in some Dental Crowns.

The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth

If an entire tooth is missing and the missing tooth is not replaced, the surrounding teeth usually rotate or shift into the empty space left behind. This movement of the teeth causes malocclusion, which can negatively affect an individual’s diet. Furthermore, bone deterioration and the development of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are also common. For these reasons, individuals should explore the tooth replacement options that are available at NOVA Dental Studio in Virginia.

How Much Does a Dental Crown in Virginia Cost?

A Top-Rated Dentist in Virginia

Dr. Paesani is a top-rated dentist in Virginia. Besides offering general dentistry services, Dr. Paesani is a dental crown specialist and a cosmetic dentist who has the knowledge, skills and expertise necessary to provide you with the long-lasting results you desire.

If you are in Virginia and need dental care, contact NOVA Dental Studio today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael J. Paesani. Contact the office today at (703) 237-7725. Individuals who would like to use the online form to contact the office can click here. NOVA Dental Studio’s address is 200 Little Falls Street, No. 101, Falls Church, Virginia.

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