Restore Your Healthy Smile With Our Pineville Dentist
Damaged or decayed teeth can significantly impact your daily life, making simple tasks like chewing and speaking a challenge. Some patients may also feel held back by their smiles if they struggle with stained or cracked teeth. You deserve to have a beautiful, healthy smile you can show off with pride. That’s why our Pineville cosmetic dentist is proud to offer cosmetic dental services like porcelain crowns to rejuvenate your smile.
Porcelain crowns from Locke Family Dentistry can help restore both your teeth’s function and appearance. Dr. Virginia Locke can provide you with a custom-made dental crown that’s sure to boost your confidence in your smile while also improving your overall oral health. We welcome patients from Central Louisiana areas like Natchitoches and Alexandria, LA. Read on to learn more about this convenient and reliable treatment!
What Are Porcelain Crowns?
Porcelain crowns are small, personalized dental caps that are placed over damaged or decayed teeth to restore their natural look and function. Crowns can also be applied for cosmetic purposes, such as to enhance the appearance of stained or discolored teeth as well as hide minor dental imperfections.
Your cosmetic dentist in Pineville, LA can customize your porcelain crown to match the shape, size, and color of your surrounding teeth for a seamless appearance. Unlike metal-based crowns, porcelain crowns offer an attractive solution to damaged teeth that look and feel natural.
Candidacy for Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain crowns offer a wide range of benefits that other cosmetic dental treatments can’t beat. Our restorative dentist may recommend porcelain crowns for patients whose teeth are:
- Chipped, cracked, or broken
- Treated with root canal therapy
- Stained or discolored
- Severely decayed
- Irreparably damaged
- Worn-down or weakened
Receiving a dental crown can protect your compromised tooth while restoring your healthy smile. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Locke at our Pineville office by calling (318) 448-3804 to learn if you’re a candidate for this treatment.
Benefits of Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain crowns come with a host of unique cosmetic and restorative benefits that make them a superior option over metal crowns, such as:
- Personalized and natural appearance
- Quick and minimally invasive procedure
- Protects teeth from cavities and bacteria
- Durable and long-lasting
- Restores teeth’s natural look and function
The Porcelain Crown Process
Initial Consultation
Before beginning your journey to a restored smile, you’ll first undergo an initial consultation with Dr. Locke. She’ll perform a thorough evaluation of your teeth and oral health to determine if dental crowns are the ideal solution for you. If necessary, our Pineville dentist will also discuss your other treatment options available at our Central Louisiana dental office.
Creating Your Crowns
Dr. Locke will first administer a local anesthetic to numb the targeted tooth and surrounding area. She’ll then meticulously clean your tooth before removing a small portion of your enamel to make room for your crown to fit snugly over its surface.
She’ll then take a detailed impression of your mouth that a dental laboratory will use as a blueprint when making your customized crown. Dr. Locke will place a temporary dental crown over your tooth in the meantime.
Placing Your Crowns
Once we receive your restorations, you’ll return to our Pineville office for a final fitting. Our dentist will remove your temporary crown and once again clean your tooth. She’ll then place your personalized crown, making any necessary adjustments to ensure it fits naturally and comfortably within your mouth.
After applying a dental-grade adhesive to stabilize the crown and making sure that your teeth feel comfortable, you’ll be able to leave our office with a beautiful, restored smile!
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long do porcelain crowns last?
With proper care, dental crowns can last up to 15 years before needing to be replaced. To ensure your crowns stay in good condition for years to come, it’s crucial to practice good oral hygiene. This includes brushing and flossing twice per day along with rinsing between meals.
We also suggest scheduling biannual appointments with Dr. Locke at our Pineville office for routine dental cleanings and exams. This will ensure both your oral health and restorations are in great shape.
Does receiving porcelain crowns hurt?
Receiving porcelain crowns is a virtually painless experience. Before beginning the procedure, Dr. Locke will administer a local anesthetic to ensure you don’t feel any pain while she works.
You may experience mild discomfort after the numbness subsides, but this can be easily managed with over-the-counter pain relievers and cold compresses. Any discomfort should fade after a few days.
How much do porcelain crowns cost?
The exact cost of your dental crown procedure depends on several factors, such as how many crowns you receive. We suggest contacting your dental insurance provider beforehand to learn what your plan will cover. Your Pineville dentist will also provide you with an accurate cost estimate at your initial consultation.