Porcelain Dental Crowns in Niagara
We provide precision-fitted porcelain dental crowns to patients across Niagara, including St. Catharines, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Niagara Falls.
A dental crown, or cap, is a protective casing that is bonded to a portion of a remaining tooth or to the pole of a dental implant to return functionality; it lets you chew again. There are a number of circumstances in which you and Dr. Clark may decide that a porcelain crown is the best option for restoring a tooth.
A porcelain crown may be the best solution if:
● You have had root canal therapy● You have lost a considerable portion of your tooth to decay.● A large piece of your tooth has cracked or broken off.● You have a large cavity that threatens the integrity of your tooth.● Your implant has been damaged and requires a replacement.● Sometimes, for cosmetic reasons, you may wish to improve the positioning, shading or shape of a tooth and other restorative methods, such as Invisalign® treatment, contouring, veneers, whitening or bonding, are not quite good enough.
Because porcelain crowns are very strong and are the most natural-looking crowns available, they are perfect for cosmetic applications where you require a discreet fix.
What to Expect
The process varies depending on your specific situation, but generally proceeds as follows:
First Impression
First, an impression or mould will be taken of the tooth. This is done prior to shaping since it aids in the creation of a temporary crown and guides the construction of your permanent porcelain crown. The temporary crown is used to cap and protect your tooth until the permanent crown has been constructed and is ready to be cemented into place.
Shaping
Next, the tooth will be prepared to accept the porcelain crown. Dr. Clark will give you a local anaesthetic to freeze the area being worked on. He will then do a little shaping of the tooth to make sure your porcelain crown can be firmly cemented into place while leaving enough of the original tooth so that it retains its strength.
Second Impression
Following shaping, a 3D digital scan, using the state of the art iTero machine will be used. It takes the place of messy impressions, which can cause discomfort for patients. The iTero scanner only requires a few minutes to complete a scan of your mouth before it is then sent electronically to the dental laboratory where the immediately begin fabricating your crown. As a result, you receive your cap faster and with a precision fit.
Custom Creation
The iTero scanner captures 6,000 digital images per second, generating a highly accurate 3D map of your teeth and crown. The dental technician will produce a custom-made porcelain crown that will fit naturally into the prepared site. We also match the colour to the rest of your teeth for aesthetic consitency.
Fitting and Cementing
On your return to the dental office, Dr. Clark will remove the temporary crown and, in its place, position the permanent porcelain crown. The fit, the shape and the shade will then be checked to make sure the crown sits naturally with your other teeth. If everything lines up perfectly, the permanent crown will be cemented into place. You can now chew and smile as freely as you did before you needed a crown.
Ready for your best smile?
If you’d like to enhance your smile’s appearance with a dental crown, contact Niagara-on-the-Lake Dental to book an appointment!