Crowns

A dental crown is a cap shaped like a tooth that is specifically designed and created to perfectly fit over an existing tooth. These crowns are commonly made of ceramic, a highly durable material closely resembling natural teeth. Dental crowns are often recommended to restore teeth that have suffered significant damage.

Dr. Qing is a Prosthodontist who is board-certified and specializes in crown restorations. What sets Dr. Qing's crowns apart is the attention to detail. The key elements for achieving long-lasting, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing crowns lie in the finer points. These include the margin seal, which prevents any leakage after extended use,proximal contact that prevents food from getting stuck, occlusion that ensures a comfortable and functional bite, and color match, which provides a beautiful tooth and smile. By clicking the image at the bottom of the page, you can view the actual patients of Dr. Qing who have received crowns.

When Would Crowns Be Used?

There are a number of reasons why crowns would be necessary, such as:

• If a tooth is cracked, damaged due to decay, or worn down, a crown would be used to help restore its shape and strength.
• If a tooth is severely discolored, a crown may be used to help restore it to its natural appearance.
• Crowns can be used to restore teeth that are naturally misshapen or chipped.
• Crowns can hold extremely weak teeth intact and keep them from coming apart.

How Are Dental Crowns Made?

Dental crowns are custom-made caps that go over a tooth that has been damaged or worn down. The crown is bonded to the tooth, so the two become one unit. The crown can be made of ceramic, porcelain-fused-to-metal, EMX or gold. Each material has advantages and disadvantages. Prosthodontist Dr. Qing can help you decide which material is best for your situation.

The damaged tooth is prepared ahead of time to make room for the crown. Then, an impression will be taken of your tooth and sent to a dental lab. The lab will create your crown to the size, shape, and color that you have chosen. Once prepared, the crown will be bonded to the tooth using dental adhesives. A Bite test, Bitewing margin seal test, and Contact tightness test etc will be done to ensure your crown is placed perfectly.

CEREC Same-day crowns 

CEREC Same-day crowns, revolutionizing the dental field with their advanced technology and convenience, are a remarkable solution for restoring damaged or decayed teeth in just one appointment. CEREC refers to Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics and is an innovative computer-aided design and manufacturing system that allows dentists to fabricate high-quality ceramic crowns on-site. With this cutting-edge technique, patients can bid farewell to the traditional tedious process involving multiple visits and temporary restorations.

CEREC Same-day crowns offer unparalleled efficiency by eliminating the need for messy impressions as they employ digital scans to capture precise measurements of the tooth structure within seconds. These virtual images are then meticulously analyzed by specialized software, enabling dentists to customize a crown that perfectly matches each patient's unique dental anatomy while ensuring optimal aesthetics and functionality. Once designed digitally, this information is transmitted directly to an on-site milling unit, where a solid block of ceramic material is intricately carved into a durable and lifelike crown in mere minutes. This procedure not only saves valuable time but also ensures exceptional accuracy since it eliminates human error during fabrication at external labs while guaranteeing immediate placement of the permanent restoration upon completion. Thus, CEREC Same-day crowns present an unrivaled alternative for individuals seeking swift yet impeccable dental care without compromising quality or esthetics.

How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?

The lifespan of your dental crown depends on how well it was placed and cared for.  But on average, dental crowns made by Prosthodontists can last for decades.  A published study by Terry Donavan (J Esthet Restor Dent. 2004;16(3):194-204) followed 1314 gold crowns in 114 patients, found 94.1% of all crowns are still working well after 40 years.

To help extend the life of your crown, do regular dental cleaning, exam and wear a mouthguard (or a sports guard) to protect your teeth from injury.

Click to See Dr. Qing’s actual patients who received crown treatment (The red arrows indicate the details of the crown margin seal, contour, and color match).

To find out more about the dental services offered at Bucks Dental, call (215)-220-3395 or schedule an online consultation. You can also visit us at 1151 S Broad St, Lansdale, PA 19446.