An elderly couple enjoys family time after receiving dental crowns in Salmon Creek, WA.

Dental Crowns Vancouver, WA

Dental Crowns in Salmon Creek & Greater Vancouver

A dental crown serves as a protective shield for a damaged, broken, or weakened tooth. At Andersen Dental Care, we understand that retaining your natural teeth is always best for your oral health. We seek to remove any decay, restore a tooth to health, and if the damage is extensive, to protect the tooth with a dental crown. In the long term, your oral health is protected by keeping your natural root and strengthening your tooth.

Contact us today at 360-335-3251, so that Dr. Andersen can evaluate your specific needs, and by working together, we can create a treatment plan that works best for you.

What Is A Dental Crown?

Tooth extraction in Vancouver, WA. Dental crowns are used to protect a tooth that has lost strength or durability. This prosthetic can greatly extend the life of your natural tooth and root beneath. Patients sometimes express being unhappy with the cost of a dental crown, but the cost to go without can be considerably more. Dr. Andersen may recommend a dental crown after a tooth has experienced a fracture, had a root canal therapy procedure, or if the tooth requires a large filling.

What Are Dental Crowns Made Of?

Dental crowns are available in a variety of materials. They can be customized using porcelain, porcelain over metal, gold, or acrylic. Each material comes with varying positive and negative points, depending on the location of the crown in your mouth. Dr. Andersen will review these options with you, and together help you decide the best crown for your needs. Generally speaking, the attributes of the materials include:

Porcelain Crowns: Porcelain crowns are one of the more aesthetically pleasing material choices for a dental crown. They most resemble your natural teeth in color and translucency, helping them blend well in your mouth. The negative side to porcelain crowns is their susceptibility to breakage. Because they have a higher rate of fracture, we only recommend porcelain crowns for front teeth.
Porcelain over Metal Crowns: The metal layer beneath the porcelain provides considerable strength to the crown. With this option, you can enjoy the porcelain look of the tooth on the outer layer, and the strength of the metal below. The negative side to porcelain over metal crowns is also the porcelain susceptibility to breakage. Porcelain can chip, exposing the dark metal color below.
Gold Crowns: Gold crowns feel the most like your natural teeth. Your natural teeth are hard, but not as hard as metal. Gold crowns are often noted for their comfort when chewing. The negative side is their dark yellow color. Patients often prefer to have a crown that can hide in their mouth. Gold crowns are typically used on back molar teeth.
Acrylic Crowns: Acrylic is rapidly increasing in popularity as a choice for dental crowns. They have the look of your natural teeth, are very strong, and are much less likely to chip or break. The negative side to acrylic crowns is their hardness. Some patients find it difficult to get used to acrylic crowns, because they feel hard and solid, not like their natural teeth.

If you would like more information on dental crowns, and how they can benefit your oral health, call us today at 360-335-3251. Our Vancouver, WA staff can assist you in answering questions and scheduling an appointment.