Crowns

Crowns services offered in Beaverton, OR

When you think of crowns from the dentist, you might think of shining gold or silver caps that draw attention, both positive and negative, to your mouth. In reality, many of the natural-looking teeth you see in the smiles of your friends and family are covered with discreet crowns, like those offered by Lillian Liu, DMD, and the team at U & I Smile in Beaverton, Oregon. Whether you need to reinforce a tooth’s strength or just make it look better, call the office or request an appointment online today.

Crowns Q&A

What are crowns?

Dental crowns are caps that are made to look just like your natural teeth from the outside, or even better. Crowns can save teeth that are at risk of breaking and prevent you from needing an extraction.

In order to create a crown that looks natural among your other teeth, Dr. Liu examines your mouth and takes images of your teeth. The team uses these to craft a crown that looks indistinguishable from your original tooth, even in color. They’re typically made of porcelain, ceramic, or metals like gold or stainless steel.

The material you choose for your crown depends on what you want it to look like. If you want it to match your other teeth in color and translucency, you may choose porcelain. If you want it to be extremely strong in withstanding bite forces toward the back of your mouth, metal or porcelain fused to metal may be a better choice.

Why do I need a crown?

Crowns are an option for treatment in a wide range of cases. You can get crowns that will:

Cover dental implants
Hold in a dental bridge
Protect a tooth after a root canal
Protect a tooth weakened by decay
Restore a broken tooth
Cover a misshapen or discolored tooth

While crowns are often used for dental restoration, they can also be an option for cosmetic dental treatment. For example, if one of your molars looks unattractive from the outside, a veneer couldn’t cover it the way a crown could.

What happens if a crown breaks or comes loose?

Crowns are unlikely to break or come loose as long as you refrain from crunching down on solid objects or using your teeth to cut non-food items like plastic. If your crown breaks or comes loose, don’t panic. If it comes out completely, make sure you find the crown or the pieces of it and keep them safe until you can see Dr. Liu.

You should book the next available appointment at U & I Smile so Dr. Liu can reattach the original crown or get started on making a new one while you wear a temporary crown.

If you can get dental cement, an over-the-counter product, before the time of your appointment, you can use it to protect the weak tooth below your crown rather than exposing it to further damage.

To learn more about crowns, call U & I Smile or request an appointment online today.