Dental crowns are often necessary to cover and protect damaged and decaying teeth when other reparative methods are not as effective on their own. Specifically, crowns are needed during a variety of dental treatments for:

  • Worn or cracked teeth
  • Significant tooth decay
  • Cavities
  • Root canals
  • Dental bridges
  • Implants

The first four involve the need to keep a weak tooth together that is at risk of breaking apart. However, a crown can also hold a dental bridge in the right place and disguise an implant. It’s a go-to item in a dentist’s toolbox to both strengthen your bite and improve your smile.

Crowns at Valley Dental Works

If you need a crown, the highly experienced dentists at Valley Dental Works are here to help. We’ll have you come in for an initial consultation to review your symptoms, concerns, and medical history. From there, we can agree on a treatment plan that is right for your dental needs and goals.

How Crowns Work to Help Your Teeth

The basic premise of a dental crown is to protect and strengthen your bite while blending in with the rest of your teeth. It gets its name by acting like a cap over your tooth while having effective and natural-looking grooves and edges. It is held in place with cement.

Candidates for dental crowns are not always patients with urgent dental issues. Many people with long-damaged teeth can reap the cosmetic rewards and self-esteem boost that crowns can provide.

To ensure durability and long-term protection of your underlying teeth, our dentists use crowns made with one or more of the following materials:

  • All-ceramic
  • Zirconium
  • Gold
  • Porcelain
  • CEREC

Our dentists consider several factors when determining which material to use for a patient’s crown, including structural needs, health concerns, and personal preference. All-ceramic and CEREC are two of the most frequently recommended types of crowns at our practice.

All-ceramic crowns offer an ideal compromise between strength and appearance, holding up well and color-matching to the patient’s other teeth. CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) are ceramic crowns that can be professionally milled and placed in one day. CEREC crowns can be a good option for patients who prefer to avoid a multi-stage treatment process and those who do not wish to have a temporary crown while they wait for a more permanent one.

How Long Do Crowns Last?

The average lifespan of a crown is about 15 years, but this number can vary a great deal depending on the type of material used. Metal usually lasts longer than ceramic but is not as aesthetically pleasing. However, the strength of ceramic crowns is impressive; about 84% of patients at Valley Dental Works still have intact CEREC crowns 18 years after they were placed.

Learn More about Dental Crowns

Dental crowns can be an excellent solution for protecting your teeth while maintaining a great-looking smile! They can be a part of another dental procedure or a great standalone option. Contact Valley Dental Works today to learn more about crowns and if they might be a good part of an effective treatment plan for you.