Dental Crowns
A crown is a cap that covers your whole tooth, restoring its shape, strength, and appearance. When a cavity is too large to fill or a tooth is cracked or worn down, a crown is what puts it back into full working order.
How crowns work
What the procedure involves, and what to expect afterward.
About dental crowns
More on crown treatment
Dental crowns in Northridge, CA
A dental crown is like a cap placed over your tooth to restore it to its normal appearance and function. Whether you need a crown rather than a filling depends on how much healthy tooth structure you have left.
You will typically need a crown if a cavity has grown too large to fill, if a tooth is chipped or worn down, or after root canal therapy, since a treated tooth becomes more brittle and needs protecting.
Crowns can be made from metal alloys, ceramics, porcelain, or porcelain fused to metal. We choose the material based on where the tooth sits, the shade of the teeth around it, and the position of your gum tissue.
What a crown gives back
Eat without restriction
Chew normally again
Smile with confidence
Live without tooth pain
If you have tooth pain or think you may have a cavity, book an initial consultation and examination. We will tell you whether a filling will do the job or whether a crown is the better call, then build a treatment plan around what you actually need. Crowns are part of our broader restorative dentistry care.
Frequently asked questions about dental crowns
It depends on how much healthy tooth structure is left. A filling works when the damage is contained and the surrounding tooth is strong. Once a cavity grows too large, or the tooth is cracked or badly worn, a filling has nothing solid to hold onto and a crown becomes the better option.
Metal alloys, ceramics, porcelain, or porcelain fused to metal. We choose based on where the tooth sits in your mouth, the shade of the teeth around it, and the position of your gum tissue. Back teeth take more force and may call for a different material than a front tooth.
A tooth that has had root canal therapy is more brittle afterward, because the internal tissue that kept it resilient has been removed. A crown protects what is left from fracturing under normal chewing.
Around ten years on average, and often considerably longer with good hygiene and regular cleanings. What shortens a crown's life is usually decay developing at the margin where it meets the tooth, which is one of the things we check at every visit.
Think you might need a crown? Let us take a look.
Find out what is actually going on
Schedule an exam and get a clear, honest picture of your oral health.