Dental crowns are like the knights-in-shining armor of dentistry, though not all crowns are made of metal anymore. Crowns can also be made of composite and ceramic; their duty to your smile is to serve and protect natural teeth from damage. Dr. Roberto Bellegarrigue offers dental crowns at North Tampa Dentistry. Our tooth crowns are made of the highest quality materials and customized to meet your specific oral health needs and aesthetic goals.
What Is a Dental Crown?
A crown covers the tooth’s crest down to the gumline. You can think of a dental crown as armor for your tooth. It encapsulates the underlying tooth, ensuring it doesn’t come to any harm due to chewing pressure, damage, or bacteria.
The Procedure for Dental Crowns in Tampa
Dental crowns in Tampa, FL, protect and restore teeth, including how they look and function. The dental crown procedure usually involves two appointments at North Tampa Dentistry.
The First Appointment – Preparing the Tooth
During this visit, Dr. Belle examines your mouth and takes x-rays to evaluate the tooth and surrounding bone. Next, he checks for tooth decay, risk of infection, and injury to the tooth’s pulp. Dr. Belle then reshapes the tooth so the crown fits perfectly over it. The amount of reshaping depends on the type of crown you receive. If your tooth has too much healthy structure missing due to decay or damage, he will rebuild its structure so the crown can cover it.
After reshaping the tooth, Dr. Belle takes an impression of it and sends the impression to our dental lab partners, where a specialist crafts your crown. This can take a couple of weeks, so in the meantime, Dr. Belle will provide you with a temporary crown so you can still eat and socialize comfortably.
The Second Appointment – Placing the Crown
Once your final dental crown is back from the lab, your dentist checks its fit and color to ensure it matches your smile and feels comfortable. He then administers a local anesthetic to numb the area and cements the crown in place. And just like that, you are ready to show off your new and improved smile!
Restore Your Smile with Dental Crowns in Tampa
Do you have a damaged tooth or recently had a root canal? Dr. Belle can restore your tooth with high-quality dental crowns that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. Call North Tampa Dentistry today at (813) 968-5368 to schedule your consultation with our dentist in Tampa.