If you severely damage a tooth or develop a deep cavity, dental crowns can limit discomfort, protect your tooth, and prevent further complications. At North Hawaii Dental LLC, general dentist Maricris Meyer, DDS, uses custom restorations, including dental crowns, to rehabilitate smiles and restore your oral health. To make an appointment at the practice in Kamuela, Hawaii, call the office or use the online booking tool today.
Dental crowns are custom-manufactured oral restorations that repair a severely damaged or decaying tooth. They can be applied to any teeth but are very common on molars, which are at the back of your mouth. Crowns look like your natural tooth enamel. Once bonded in place, they restore your tooth to its near-original size and appearance, making it easier to bite and chew.
Veneers are incredibly thin pieces of porcelain your dentist bonds to the teeth at the front of your mouth. They cover up minor oral imperfections like stained, pointy, or unusually shaped teeth and make your smile appear more symmetrical. It’s possible to get one veneer, but the providers at North Hawaii Dental LLC typically recommend a series of between six and eight.
North Hawaii Dental LLC uses dental crowns to:
You might also benefit from a dental crown if you break or damage a tooth while playing sports or after biting down on a hard object, like ice cubes.
At North Hawaii Dental LLC, getting a dental crown or veneer takes two appointments.
To prepare the tooth for a dental crown, your dentist administers a local anesthetic and removes a layer of enamel from the top and sides. Next, your provider takes impressions of your tooth and sends them to a dental laboratory. The lab technicians use your impressions to design and manufacture a custom dental crown.
To prepare your teeth for veneers, your provider numbs your mouth and removes a thin layer of enamel (about one millimeter thick) from each tooth. Next, they take impressions of your teeth and send them to a dental laboratory. The techs at the lab use your impressions to manufacture the veneers.
A week or two later, when your crown or veneer is ready, you return to North Hawaii Dental LLC. Your provider administers a local anesthetic, lines up the crown or veneer with your tooth, and bonds it in place. Then, they polish your new restoration, remove any excess material, and provide aftercare instructions.
Dental crowns and veneers typically last 12-15 years, but it’s possible to extend their lifespan by practicing good oral hygiene. North Hawaii Dental LLC recommends brushing and flossing daily and visiting the office at least twice a year for an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning.
To protect your veneers or crown from damage, wear a mouthguard when playing sports and avoid bad habits like biting your nails, opening packaging with your teeth, or chewing on hard objects like popcorn kernels.
To learn more about dental crowns or veneers, make an appointment at North Hawaii Dental LLC by calling the office or using the online booking tool today.
