If you have a damaged or decayed tooth in Baltimore, a dental crown from Dr. Dawn Merguerian at Waterfront Dental may be just what you need to get relief from your pain and discomfort, and restore your smile. As an expert restorative dentist, Dr. Merguerian can deliver excellent care and ensure your crown looks and feels completely natural.
Dental crowns are often called “caps” because they cap and protect your entire tooth structure. They are typically made of porcelain, and they are designed to cover up your entire tooth all the way down to the gum line, replacing it and protecting the underlying enamel from further damage.
After it has been placed, your dental crown will look, feel, and function just like a natural tooth, and it will be indistinguishable from the rest of your teeth.
Because crowns are designed to cover up your entire tooth structure, they are typically used to restore teeth that have been seriously damaged by extensive decay, and teeth that have been cracked or broken due to dental trauma. In addition, crowns are frequently used to restore teeth after treatment with root canal therapy, as they protect the underlying pulp and enamel from further damage. They are also sometimes used purely for cosmetic purposes if another treatment like veneers or dental bonding is not suitable for a particular tooth.
The dental crown placement process consists of two appointments over a few weeks. At your first appointment, your tooth will be prepared for your crown. Dr. Merguerian will clean and numb your mouth, and use a dental drill to remove damaged or decayed enamel from the tooth. Then, she will shape it into a sturdy, strong platform to which your crown can be attached.
Then, Dr. Merguerian will use an intraoral scanner to create impressions of your newly trimmed tooth. These impressions will be sent to a dental lab where your crown will be made. This process takes 2-3 weeks, so she will attach a temporary crown to your tooth, and send you home.
When your porcelain crown arrives at our Baltimore office, you’ll come back for your final appointment, and Dr. Merguerian will remove your temporary crown, clean the area, and check the fit of your crown. If everything looks good, it will be bonded into place using dental cement.
Dental crowns are a minimally invasive treatment, so there is no long recovery process after your crown has been placed. You can get back to your day-to-day routine right away, and even go right back to work after treatment if you were not sedated during the procedure. Your tooth may feel a bit tender or sensitive, but this should subside within a few weeks. If you experience a lot of discomfort or pain after your treatment, this is not normal. You should contact us for a follow-up appointment.
