Jan. 4, 2007, Beverly Hills (BH) and LOS ANGELES (LA) -- If you want a smile that's your crowning glory, you may need a crown, or dental cap, to cover a tooth and restore it to its normal shape and size. A crown can make your tooth stronger and improve its appearance.
Top cosmetic-dentist Dr. Anthony Mobasser offers the most sophisticated and aesthetic crowning techniques to provide you with a healthy and bright smile.
A crown can cover and support a tooth with a large filling when you don't have enough tooth left. It can be used to attach a bridge, protect a weak tooth from breaking or restore one that's already broken.
A crown is a good way to cover teeth that are discolored or badly shaped. It's also used to cover a dental implant.
It typically takes two separate appointments to make a dental crown. We use the following steps to improve your smile with a crown.
Your first appointment
Anesthetization:
Dr. Mobasser first will anesthetize, or numb, both your tooth and the surrounding gum.
Shaping your tooth:
A dental crown must have a minimal thickness to have adequate strength and, in the case of porcelain type crowns, proper aesthetics. Thus Dr. Mobasser must reduce your tooth to a minimal thickness so it has adequate strength. In the case of porcelain crowns, this procedure also will ensure proper aesthetics. If a portion of your tooth has already broken off, Dr. Mobasser may find very little tooth reduction is necessary.
While performing the trimming process, Dr. Mobasser will remove any decayed tooth material. The final tooth will be shaped in a slightly tapered form, which will allow the crown to slip easily over the tooth.
The more existing tooth is available, the more stable the crown. Occasionally, so much tooth has broken off that Dr. Mobasser may have to to use filling materials to "build up" the tooth.
Making an impression
Once your tooth has been shaped, Dr. Mobasser will take an impression to be used as a model in creating your new crown. There are two methods for taking this impression.
Matching the crown
Dr. Mobasser's skill as a cosmetic dentist ensures your crown will perfectly match the rest of your smile. A “shade guide” provides a guide to your perfect shade.
Cementing the permanent crown into place
At your second appoint, Dr. Mobasser will cement the crown to the remaining portion of your original tooth. By placing the crown on your original tooth, he can evaluate if it provides the best fit. A slight adjustment may be necessary at this point.
Once you both agree that all seems right, Dr. Mobasser will cement the crown in place and seat it on the original tooth. After the cement has set, he'll scrape away any excess cement that may have escaped around the edges of the crown.
With this final step, your permanent porcelain crown is in place.
LEARN MORE
Call Dr. Mobasser today at 1.310.550.0383 or email us to schedule an appointment and learn more about how crowns can create your perfect smile.
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