Questions For Your Allentown Dentist
We believe that we can provide the highest quality dentistry when our patients are an active part of the decision-making process. Answering your questions isn't just a courtesy – it gives us an opportunity to explain things to you in such a way that you feel confident and understand what it means to you and the direction of your oral health care. No question is too small, and the only silly question is the one that isn't asked.
We've shared a few of the questions we hear most often below. You probably have plenty of your own, though, so please don't ever hesitate to contact our Allentown dental office, and we'll find the answers you're looking for.
Dental Crowns & Bridges
The answer is straightaway yes! Actually, a crown is recommended to you if you
have a heavily decayed or broken down tooth in which fillings are not possible. Dental crowns don’t get cavities as they are made up of metals and/or ceramics but the tooth under the crown is prone to cavities.
- Practicing good oral hygiene measures can prevent cavity formation. Regular tooth brushing and dental flossing can greatly reduce the chance of cavity formation.
- Regular visits to your dentist will also help prevent the progression of cavity formation.
- Avoiding sticky and sugar-rich foods can also limit the chances of cavity formation.
- Adequate fluoride consumption is essential for the maintenance of tooth integrity.
At Evolve Dental Care, we know it can be difficult to detect a cavity under a dental crown. Cavities under crowns are detected by a dentist in Allentown, PA with gentle probing and with
the help of x-rays.
Be Aware Of These Potential Cavity Symptoms
But if you have the following symptoms you may have a cavity and should visit your dentist:
- Sensitivity to hot and cold
- Severe dental pain
- Sore gums or swollen gums
- Grey or black spot adjacent to crown margins
In most cases, it takes two to three weeks, from start to finish, to place a durable porcelain dental crown
While the materials and techniques used have improved dramatically over the years, the steps involved with getting a new dental crown in Allentown are basically the same as they have been for decades.
The Steps for Getting a New Dental Crown
- The first step is to prepare your tooth to receive the crown. Since the restoration adds bulk, we need to remove an equal amount from the tooth so that the crown fits well and looks natural.
- Next, we take impressions of your teeth that we use to create a model. We then use the model to create a temporary crown, and a top custom dental lab in our area uses it to fabricate your new all-porcelain dental restoration.
- In about two weeks, your final crown will be ready, and you will return to Evolve Dental Care. Our dentists will check the restoration for fit, ensure that it doesn’t interfere with your dental bite, and cement it securely in place on the prepared tooth.
If you have been considering a new dental crown in Allentown but need more information, please call Evolve Dental Care for an appointment. Dr. Amir or Dr. Sunny will be happy to meet with you to evaluate your needs, answer your questions, and explain your options.
At Evolve Dental Care, we design dental bridges in Allentown to be durable, functional, and
natural-looking. However, their longevity depends on how well you care for them at home and how often you visit your dentist in Allentown for professional maintenance.
How to Make Your Smile Last
Daily habits and hygiene routines play a big role in helping your bridge stay strong and supportive for years to come.
Here are four essential aftercare tips to help your dental bridge last:
- Brush and floss daily. Pay extra attention to the area around your bridge, especially underneath the false tooth, to prevent plaque buildup.
- Use a floss threader or water flosser. These tools help clean beneath the bridge where regular floss can’t reach.
- Schedule regular checkups. Seeing your dentist in Allentown twice a year allows for early detection of any issues that could compromise the bridge.
- Don't use your teeth as tools. Avoid using your teeth to open packages, untwist bottles, and the like. This can damage your natural teeth, your bridge, and your overall oral health.
Call Our Dentist in Allentown For More Details
A well-maintained dental bridge helps preserve your bite and jaw alignment. If you’re considering dental bridges in Allentown, give us a call at (610) 797-8245. We also offer a savings plan to make dental care more accessible and affordable!
When you invest in a dental crown to protect damaged teeth, the hope is that it will do its job for ten years or longer. So if the restoration is continually popping off your tooth, one of several things might be happening.
A crown may come loose because it's been placed on a tooth that doesn’t have enough structure to stabilize it. In some cases, we can perform additional treatments to build up the tooth and provide enough structure to support a dental crown successfully.
In the case of an older crown, it could be that decay in the tooth beneath it has compromised the seal of cement that secures the restoration to the tooth. If the tooth is beyond repair, however, we will recommend extraction and replacement with a dental implant or bridge.
If your crown comes off, try to place it back on the tooth and call us to make an appointment. Just remember that this is a temporary fix as the crown's likely to come off again, and the last thing you want is to accidentally swallow it!
Keep Dental Crowns in Place
The best way to keep dental crowns in Allentown, PA intact and secure is to schedule exams and cleanings every six months at Evolve Dental Care. During these appointments, we’ll check all your restoration to make sure they’re secure and in good shape.
Call To Book Your Dental Crown Consultation
Do you want to learn more about dental crowns and how they could benefit your smile? Contact your dentist in Allentown, PA today to get started! We can't wait to hear from you soon.
In this case, a dental crown may be your best option for restoring the tooth. It’s natural for older fillings to start to deteriorate, weakening the tooth. If steps aren’t taken to strengthen the tooth with some type of restoration, it may become more damaged and possibly even fracture.
Can a chipped filling be repaired?
Porcelain crowns placed at Evolve Dental Care are durable and beautiful. We’ll create your new crown out of a ceramic material that looks similar to your natural dental enamel. The result is a restoration that blends in perfectly with surrounding teeth.
Placing a crown from start to finish usually requires two to three visits. At your first visit, we’ll begin by preparing the tooth so that your new crown fits perfectly. Next, we’ll take impressions of the prepared tooth. The impressions are used to create a model that’s sent to our dental lab where your new crown is constructed. Using the same impression, we also create a temporary crown.
About two weeks later, you’ll return to our office for your new crown. We’ll check the crown carefully for fit and make any necessary adjustments. Finally, the crown will be polished and cemented securely to your natural tooth.
Call Our Allentown Office Today
If you’re worried about fillings that are failing, please call our Allentown dental office. We’ll be happy to set up a consultation so we can make appropriate recommendations.
As the years go by and you have dental work done, you may need to have one or more teeth filled. Dental fillings don’t last forever, of course, and we will eventually need to replace them. Tooth-colored composite fillings last about five years, and amalgam fillings last about ten years.
How Many Times Can You Replace A Filling?
But how many times can you replace a filling? And at what point does a filled tooth require a dental crown? This is a great question! The answer is that if the decay or damage involves more than half the width of the tooth, we need to cover it with a dental crown at our Allentown, PA dental office.
When the tooth has reached this stage, it has been significantly weakened and is prone to fracture or cracking. In some cases, our dentists may recommend a dental crown if an older filling has cracks or shows signs of stress.
Dental Crowns to Protect Teeth
The purpose of a dental crown is to restore form and function to a decayed or damaged tooth. When we place it on your tooth, the crown absorbs chewing forces to protect the tooth from further damage. It also restores your appearance, because our all-porcelain dental crowns blend beautifully with your smile.
Call Evolve Dental Care To Learn More
If you’re concerned about a large filling and think you might need a dental crown, please call our Allentown, PA dental office to schedule a dental appointment.
Dental crowns are a type of restoration that fully encloses a tooth to protect and strengthen it. There are many instances where we may choose a dental crown:
- Protect and strengthen a tooth after a root canal procedure
- Support a fixed dental bridge
- Restore a tooth after placement of a dental implant
- Conceal a large, discolored metal filling
- Provide a new shape for a tooth that is poorly sized or proportioned
- Cover cosmetic imperfections like large chips and broken or discolored teeth
Allentown, PA Dental Crown Procedure
Placement of a dental crown at Evolve Dental Care is a straightforward process. First, we reshape the tooth, preparing it for placement of the new crown. Next, we take impressions of the tooth that will be sent to our lab and used to create your completely customized crown. While we wait for your final crown to be finished, we’ll fit you with a temporary to ensure that your tooth functions properly.
After about two to three weeks, we’ll have you return to our Allentown dental office where we’ll fit, place, and polish your new crown. Our dental crowns look completely natural, and no one will suspect that beautiful tooth is not all your own!
If you’d like to learn more about crowns and their uses, please give our 18103 dentist office a call.
- Once a cavity is developed under a crown, you often need to get your crown removed.
- If a cavity is quite small, the tooth can be rebuilt and a new crown can be placed.
- Root canal treatment in Allentown is also needed for some cases where the cavity extends deep into the pulp.
- You may be advised to get a new crown after the restoration of your tooth.
- If a tooth is not restorable, you may have to get your tooth removed.
Contact Your Allentown Dentist To Learn More
If you want to learn more about cavity prevention in Allentown or just want to book an appointment with Evolve Dental Care, give us a phone call today!
Poor oral hygiene is a leading cause of cavities under a crown. Once a dental crown in Allentown is placed, patients often think all is done now and they don’t bother to maintain good oral hygiene by regular tooth brushing, flossing, and oral rinses.
Additional Causes For Cavity Formation Under Crowns
All dental procedures are at risk of failure if oral hygiene is compromised. You must play your part for good results after dental treatment.
- Other causes of cavities under the crown include:
- Poor crown design
- Poor tooth preparation before crown placement
- Excessive pressure on crown leading to cracks (bruxism)
A dental bridge is an oral appliance made to replace one or more missing teeth. It can be made to attach to your natural teeth or to two dental crowns on either side of the gap in your mouth. It is made to look very much like your natural teeth. A bridge will also restore
your ability to chew properly.
If you are missing one or more teeth, it’s critical that you fill in the gap left behind. Although it might not seem like a big deal, an open space in your mouth will lead to the rest of your teeth shifting. This will have a negative impact on your bite and will likely lead to even more tooth loss.
Dental Bridge Procedure in Allentown, PA
Bridges will last a good number of years if you take good care of your oral hygiene. One of the major reasons for bridge failure is that cavities occurs in the teeth supporting the bridge. It’s important to pay attention to your dental hygiene and floss and brush regularly. Be sure to visit your dentist twice each year for examinations and cleanings.
Reach Out For More Information
Getting a dental bridge is a relatively simple procedure that takes place over a few dental appointments. For more information on dental bridges in Allentown, call Evolve Family Dental.
We refer to fillings and dental crowns in Allentown, PA as restorations because they “restore” the health, beauty, and function of a damaged tooth. With the durable materials available today, both porcelain dental crowns and tooth-colored fillings will protect and strengthen the tooth. But there are situations where one is preferable to the other.
The main difference between a dental crown and a tooth-colored filling is the extent of damage they can adequately address. Dental fillings are an excellent solution in many cases, but they have their limitations.
When to Use a Crown vs a Filling
For example, we can use a filling to repair a cavity, but if damage has compromised too much of the tooth structure, it wouldn’t be enough to protect it. In this case, our dentists would recommend a porcelain dental crown.
Another situation where we might recommend a dental crown instead of a filling is after root canal therapy. Removing the infection from inside a tooth makes it brittle and weak, and our dentists would recommend a durable porcelain crown to protect it and restore function.
Dental Crowns and Fillings in Allentown, PA
At Evolve Dental Care, we want you to know that you have options. But in many cases that involve a damaged tooth, a porcelain dental crown in Allentown is the best possible choice.
Please call us to learn how a porcelain crown might benefit you.
A dental crown is used to restore strength, shape, and appearance to a damaged or weakened tooth.
What Problems Can Crowns Fix?
At Evolve Dental Care, we offer dental crowns in Allentown, PA, to help protect teeth that have been compromised by:
- Tooth decay
- Large fillings
- Fractures
- Root canal treatment
Why Might I Need a Dental Crown?
A crown acts like a cap that completely covers your tooth. It preserves the tooth for the long haul and helps you maintain proper function and a natural-looking smile. As your trusted Allentown dentist, we may also recommend a crown to improve the appearance of a misshapen or discolored tooth, or to support a dental bridge.
From What Materials Are Crowns Made?
Modern dental crowns are made from durable materials, like porcelain or zirconia, that mimic the look of natural enamel while providing reliable protection. They're comfortable and custom-made to fit your unique smile and lifestyle. Plus, they look so natural that no one will even be able to tell you've had dental work done.
How to Care for Your Dental Crown
Once we place your dental crown, caring for it is just as important as caring for your natural teeth. With good oral hygiene and regular dental visits, a crown can last 10 to 15 years, or even longer.
Here are three simple care tips to keep your crown in great shape:
- Brush twice daily and floss gently around the crown.
- Avoid chewing on hard objects like ice, pens, or hard candy.
- Visit your Allentown dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings.
With the right care, your crown will protect your tooth and enhance your smile for years to come!
Book Your Dental Crown Appointment Today!
Call us today to book your consultation with our team to determine if a dental crown is right for you. And don't forget to ask us about our in-house savings plan!