Dental Crowns
Smile Makeover Specialist
In Collierville and Memphis, Tennessee
If you would like to contact Dr. Ettienne van Zyl to ask a question or schedule an appointment visit our convenient contact form.
A dental crown is a sheath that slides over chipped, broken, or decayed teeth that have good root structure. Dental crowns are used to strengthen a decayed tooth, repair a broken tooth, cover an endodontic treatment, or improve the cosmetic appearance of a tooth.
A crown performs some functions similar to both a porcelain veneer and a metal-free filling. There are, however, significant differences among the three- only a qualified cosmetic dentist can determine which is the best choice for your situation. If you have broken, decayed, or damaged teeth, please contact Dr. van Zyl for a consultation. He has received training in cosmetic dentistry at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, and is expertly trained in all forms of cosmetic dentistry, and will be able to determine if crowns are right for you.
The crowning procedure involves a series of steps similar to that of placing porcelain veneers.
First, your teeth are prepared and a series of impressions of your teeth are made to ensure that the crown will fit properly in your mouth. Preparing the tooth involves removing damage and decay and smoothing it so that the crown can properly fit over it and bond.
Next, the impressions are sent to a lab, where your crowns are custom-crafted to fit your mouth. Traditionally, crowns were made of metal, gold, but increasingly they are being made of porcelain. Most dentists now offer porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, which provide a good cosmetic results, although as you age and your gums recede, the metal may become visible. Nowadays, completely porcelain crowns are available, which can appear completely natural.
Finally, the crowns are fitted into your mouth. This final step is where the expertise of the dentist is most important, if you are getting porcelain crowns to achieve the best cosmetic result. The cement used affects the appearance of the crown. Matching the color of the crown to your surrounding teeth is as much an art as it is a science, so it's a good idea to look at pictures of your dentist's prior work before deciding to work with him or her.
If you have broken, decayed or otherwise damaged teeth, and would like to learn more about dental crowns, please consult our Dental Crowns Questions page, then contact Dr. van Zyl to schedule a consultation.
