Personalized Procedures for Restoring Your Dental Health
Dental Fillings & Dental Crowns
What is the difference between a filling and a dental crown?
A filling is much like it sounds - a process by which the dentist cleans out decay within a tooth and places a filling to prevent further decay. Fillings can be fabricated of a variety of materials, such as gold, silver or composite resins, and the type of filling is often determined by the extent of the decay and other unique factors. Generally, fillings are used to repair small amounts of decay.
A crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth cover the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength and improve its appearance. When a crown is cemented in place, the new dental crown fully encases the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.
At Liberty Hill Dental, we are proud to now offer SAME DAY CROWN technology when appropriate.
What is a same-day crown?
A “same-day crown” consolidates the comprehensive and oftentimes lengthy procedures of permanent dental crowns into a convenient, one-day process. Because Liberty Hill Dental has such an expansive and high-tech facility, our team is able to offer patients permanent dental crowns in a single appointment! If appropriate, our same-day crown procedure eliminates the need for multiple appointments, temporaries falling off, no more messy impressions and no additional visits with anesthetic are needed. Liberty Hill Dental’s same-day crown technology offers permanent dental crowns, onlays and inlays that are beautiful, natural in appearance and also incredibly strong. Crowns at our office can now be fabricated and cemented in the same day when appropriate.
Benefits include:
✓ Single visits
✓ No temporary crowns
✓ No messy and distasteful impressions
✓ Local anesthetic one time
If you are in need of a dental crown, call us today for an appointment and see if our same-day crown technology may be right for you!
What steps Are Involved in Preparing a Tooth for a Crown?
Preparing a tooth for a crown usually requires two visits to the dentist -- the first step involves examining and preparing the tooth, the second visit involves placement of the permanent crown. However, if you are a candidate for same-day crowns, our team can complete the entire process in a single visit!
First visit: Examining and Preparing the Tooth
At the first visit in preparation for a crown, Dr. Gillespie or Dr. Felicetta may need to take a few X-rays to check the roots of the tooth receiving the crown and surrounding bone. If the tooth has extensive decay or if there is a risk of infection or injury to the tooth's pulp, a root canal treatment may first be performed. In some instances, you may be referred to an endodontist to perform the root canal, then return to Liberty Hill Dental for the final restoration.
Before the process of making a crown begins, the tooth and the gum tissue around the tooth will be numbed. Next, the tooth receiving the crown is reshaped along the chewing surface and sides to make room for the crown. The amount removed depends on the type of crown used. If, on the other hand, a large area of the tooth is missing (due to decay or damage), you’re a filling material to "build up" the tooth to support the crown.
After reshaping the tooth, your dentist typically will use a paste or putty to make an impression of the tooth to receive the crown. Sometimes, though, impressions are made with a digital scanner. Impressions of the teeth above and below the tooth to receive the dental crown will also be made to make sure that the crown will not affect your bite.
The impressions or scans are sent to a dental lab where the crown will be manufactured. The crown is usually returned to your dentist's office in two to three weeks. If the crown is made of porcelain, your dentist will also select the shade that most closely matches the color of the neighboring teeth. During this first office visit your dentist will make a temporary crown to cover and protect the prepared tooth while the crown is being made. Temporary crowns usually are made of acrylic and are held in place using temporary cement.
Second visit: Receiving the Permanent Dental Crown
At the second visit, your dentist will remove the temporary crown and check the fit and color of the permanent crown. If everything is acceptable, a local anesthetic will be used to numb the tooth and the new crown is permanently cemented in place.