Dental Crowns

Philadelphia, Main Line, and Ardmore, Pennsylvania Cosmetic Dentistry

Questions About Your Teeth Crowns

What does a dental crown accomplish?
A dental crown is a tooth covering that gives new surfaces to that tooth and is used to restore a tooth that by itself is unstable and weak. The crown could:

• Strengthen a tooth threatened by a large filling
• Protect a cracked tooth
• Restore a chipped tooth
• Renew a severely worn tooth
• Provide new surfaces to cover deeply discolored surfaces

Teeth crowns can also be part of a bridge – two neighboring healthy teeth are given crowns to hold the replacement tooth.

What materials is a dental crown made from?
A dental crown can be made from gold alloy, dental composite, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or all porcelain. Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Marshall uses only metal-free, mercury-free products in her practice and therefore we offer only all-porcelain crowns. Composite crowns could be done but they are not as strong, especially on back teeth where a sturdy chewing surface is essential.

How is a crown procedure done?
First Dr. Marshall will remove all damage and decay and any old filling that has worn out. After doing a thorough cleaning, she will take an impression and photographs of the area, and input them with measurements and other data into our CEREC system. While you wait for a brief time, your crown will be milled according to Dr. Marshall’s specs. She will attach it with a temporary bond to test your bite, and will ask you how it feels. When you are both satisfied, she will bond it permanently to your tooth. 

What happens if my crown comes off?
If the tooth crown is properly done by a qualified dentist, it will not come off. Dr. Marshall uses the best bonding material and high-quality porcelain, and has over ten years of experience applying dental crowns. A temporary crown might come off, but since we have CEREC technology and can make your crown while you wait, we do not need to give you any temporary crown.

What daily care does a dental crown need?
It needs the same daily brushing and flossing your give your natural teeth. The crown is part of the tooth and just as bacteria can spread down between the gums and a tooth, they can also spread between the gums and a crown. If you remove plaque and food particles thoroughly and regularly, and come for your routine check-ups and professional cleaning, your dental crown should last many years, even decades.

To learn more about dental crowns, please see our pages on Tooth Crown Work and How Dental Crowns are Made.

If you are interested in having excellent cosmetic dentistry including dental crowns, please contact us today for a private teeth crown consultation. Our office serves the area of Philadelphia, Main Line, and Ardmore, Pennsylvania and we hope to meet with you soon.

602 The Times Building
Suburban Square
Ardmore, PA 19003
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