Fort Smith, AR porcelain crowns restore problem

Decay, fractures, fillings--these, and other factors, compromise tooth structure. Fort Smith, AR patients get beautiful porcelain crowns at New Smith Dental.

When a tooth is so compromised it cannot be restored with fillings or cosmetic dental services, porcelain crowns from Gilbert Lopez DDS at New Smile Dental rescue smiles. They bring durability, health and great aesthetics to smiles in the the Fort Smith, AR area.

What is a porcelain crown?

While there’s nothing like a healthy, natural tooth, a crown can reshape and restore what’s left of viable tooth structure, allowing it to function for years and avoiding unnecessary extraction after injury or if the tooth has substantial decay or large fillings. Essentially, a crown is a cap or cover which surrounds or protects remaining enamel, dentin and soft inner pulp and mimics the shape of a natural tooth. Crowns are made from:

•  gold, the strongest and most expensive material, usually reserved for back molars where chewing forces are greatest
•  metal alloy and porcelain, a popular, cost-effective choice
• all-porcelain, a life-like, durable material that is tooth-colored from top to bottom

Dr. Lopez requires 2 dental visits to complete the crown process. His restoration of choice is the porcelain crown.

The crown procedure

The patient requires nothing more than local anesthesia during preparation for and placement of a porcelain crown.  After x-rays, Dr. Lopez prepares the tooth by removing decay and old fillings, shaping the tooth to receive the cap.

He also takes an impression to send to an outside dental lab along with his instructions concerning materials, color and other specifics regarding the restoration. The Fort Smith dentist often places a temporary crown over the prepared tooth so the patient can chew and have a normal-looking smile while he or she waits for the permanent restoration.

During the second appointment, Dr. Lopez bonds the porcelain crown in place, adjusting the bite as necessary. Dr. Lopez tells his crown patients to brush twice daily as usual and to floss around the new crowns every day. Routine cleanings and check-ups at New Smile Dental continue as usual to keep oral health at its best.

Other uses for Fort Smith, AR porcelain crowns

Your Fort Smith dentist may use porcelain crowns to anchor fixed bridgework composed of one or more prosthetic teeth to adjacent neighboring teeth. This kind of dental prosthetic successfully has restored gapped smiles to normal function and appearance for many years. Also, many dentists use porcelain crowns to finish dental implants-- state of the art dental prosthetics which replace missing teeth from roots to crowns.  Finally, dentists employ porcelain crowns to cover and support a tooth after root canal therapy where diseased inner pulp has been removed and treated for infection.

Consider the porcelain crown

If you are concerned about the health and/or appearance of one or more of your teeth, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Lopez and his team at New Smile Dental. Dr. Lopez will evaluate your smile and present options individualized for your dental needs. The practice currently offers $100 off prosthetics such as crowns and partials. Contact New Smile Dental for your personal consultation.