Dental Crowns
Bring Your Smile Back to Life With Dr. Leitner
Don’t let damaged or decayed teeth cause you to stop smiling. Our Grand Haven dentist, Dr. Leitner specializes in restorative dentistry and offers dental crowns to those seeking an easy and efficient way to restore their smiles. In addition to creating a beautiful smile, dental crowns restore function and reinforce the strength of your afflicted tooth.
We’re always focused on improving the lifestyles of our patients by providing the best care possible. Serving patients in Grand Haven, MI, has and will always be our top priority.
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are commonly known as a type of dental restoration that completely covers the entire tooth surface to restore its natural shape and size. Crowns can effectively protect and strengthen a tooth that can’t be restored with dental fillings or other restorative options. They’re typically needed when a large cavity threatens the health of a tooth. Dr. Leitner also uses crowns in conjunction with other dental procedures, such as root canal therapy, to provide additional support and protection.
We offer two types of dental crowns: all-porcelain for your front teeth and metal-fused porcelain for your back teeth. Both options look and feel completely natural.
All-Porcelain Crowns vs. Metal-Fused Porcelain Crowns
Although they’re different, both all-porcelain crowns and metal-fused crowns seamlessly match the shape and color of your smile. Some patients may choose metal-fused crowns because they’re typically stronger and more durable than all-porcelain crowns. All-porcelain crowns can last 10-15 years while metal-fused crowns last 25 years or longer. Although metal-fused crowns are proven to have more longevity, the metal portion of the cap is easily visible and can hinder a person’s smile appearance.
All-porcelain crowns are a good choice for patients looking to achieve a more natural look. Our dentists will choose a color shade that closely matches the surrounding teeth, making the cap unnoticeable. The all-porcelain crowns are typically quicker to place because the dentist won’t need to remove as much of the tooth as with a metal cap. Although there are many pros to all-porcelain crowns, one of the biggest cons is that they wear out faster than metal-fused crowns. They’re also more prone to breakage if the patient eats something hard or gets hit in the mouth. All-porcelain crowns usually last 10 to 15 years.
The Dental Crown Process
Your first step to a restored smile is scheduling a consultation with Dr. Leitner. This initial appointment will help determine whether or not dental crowns are the best choice for your oral health needs. Once your teeth have been thoroughly examined, the process will begin with numbing your tooth with a local anesthetic.
Next, he’ll begin removing a portion of the tooth’s enamel to make room for a crown before taking a dental impression. The impressions will be sent to the lab as a blueprint for your permanent restoration. You’ll be sent home with a temporary crown to minimize irritation until your next appointment.
Two weeks later, you’ll return to our Grand Haven office for your final fitting and Dr. Leitner will make any necessary adjustments. The crown will be bonded to your tooth and you’ll have a revitalized smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should brush and floss around your crown daily. Although crowns can’t get cavities, bacteria can settle along the edges and harm the supporting tooth. Taking good care of your dental crown will increase its longevity.
Two appointments are required for dental crowns, however, your first appointment may take 60 minutes to complete, while your fitting appointment may take as few as 30 minutes. At your initial consultation, our Grand Haven dentist will provide you with an estimated treatment timeline. The length of your procedure may also vary depending on your oral health condition.
Receiving dental crowns is a virtually painless process. Dentists will administer local anesthetic to numb your targeted tooth and surrounding area before beginning the procedure.
If your dental crown sustains damage, it’s important that you do not attempt to fix it yourself. Keep the crown in a safe place and schedule an appointment with Dr. Leitner by calling (616) 842-2850. He’ll get you in as soon as possible.
A Smile You Can Be Proud Of
Our care goes far beyond teeth and oral health. We’re focused on building meaningful relationships with all of our patients to ensure trust and comfortability. Our goal is to give you a smile that you can be proud of, and that starts by scheduling a consultation for dental crowns today. Give our Grand Haven office a call at (616) 842-2850 or request more information by filling out this online form.