A crown is a type of dental procedure in which a cap that encircles the tooth/dental implant is placed on the tooth. Crowns are bonded to the tooth using a dental cement.

Crowns are not primarily cosmetic procedures and are usually done to protect the tooth. Crowns are often used to improve the strength of the tooth and also the appearance. Crowns are also used when restoring on a dental implant to provide a tooth-like shape and restore function.

Fairfax Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Le will typically recommend a crown when a patient exam presents with signs of risk of tooth fracture that threatens the health of the tooth or when a large cavity is present.

Reasons we would use Crowns

1. Broken or fractured teeth
2. Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dentistry
3. Filling is too Large
4. Tooth Decay
5. Cracked fillings
6. Restoration after Root Canal.
7. Crown restoration on a Dental Implant

Dr. Le uses porcelain (tooth colored crown) because they resemble your natural teeth.  Porcelain crowns have good aesthetic properties and are cast to fit the impression taken already by our dentist. They are highly durable and will last many years, but like most dental restorations, they may eventually need to be replaced.  Porcelain crowns are made to match the shape, size, and color or your teeth giving you a natural, long-lasting beautiful smile.

1. Preparation: During your initial appointment Dr. Le will prepare the tooth to be crowned by removing any decay and shaping the tooth for the Crown. Then we will take custom impressions of your tooth to ensure a perfect fit. This custom impression is used to then prepare the temporary Crown which will protect the prepared tooth and allow you to have no interruptions while the final crown is specially made.
2. Delivery: During your second appointment Dr. Le will remove the temporary crown and clean tooth before your new crown will be carefully placed and cemented firmly to ensure the spacing and bite are accurate.

Crowns should be treated same way as natural teeth and patients should brush and clean their teeth at least twice a day and make regular dental visits.