A crown is a custom cap that covers a tooth above the gumline, giving it back its strength and shape. Dr. Brittany Pierpont recommends crowns at Pier Dental in Saint Pete Beach for cracked teeth, large fillings, worn enamel and teeth that have had a root canal.
Your crown should feel natural when you bite down and look natural when you smile. We discuss materials such as porcelain, ceramic or metal and pick the one that suits your tooth.
How a crown comes together
After an exam, Dr. Pierpont shapes the tooth to make room, then our TRIOS scanner captures a digital model, so there is no tray of goopy impression material. A lab uses that model to make your crown.
A temporary crown protects the tooth for now. Once the permanent one arrives, it is checked, bonded and adjusted, and with good care it can last 10 to 15 years or longer.
Learn more: Dental Crowns at Pier Dental
Spotting a cracked tooth early
Cracks hide well. Warning signs include a quick zing when you release a bite, pain that comes and goes, or sensitivity to cold. Chewing ice, popping bottle caps and grinding at night are common causes.
A crack grows with every bite, so the sooner we see it the more of the tooth we can save. A crown holds the pieces together before the damage spreads.
Learn more: Cracked or Fractured Teeth at Pier Dental
Onlays when a crown is too much
Some teeth are too damaged for a filling yet too healthy to cover completely. An onlay is a custom piece of porcelain or composite that fits the damaged area and leaves more natural tooth in place.
Dr. Pierpont favors the most conservative repair that will hold up. If an onlay can do the work, you will hear about it.
Learn more: Inlays and Onlays at Pier Dental
About Saint Pete Beach
The main road past our door is Blind Pass Road, which becomes Gulf Boulevard, the route that runs the full length of the Pinellas barrier islands. A crown takes more than one visit, and that road makes follow-up trips simple for people living along the beaches.
Pier Dental is at 8351 Blind Pass Rd in Saint Pete Beach. Patients also drive in from Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, Gulfport, South Pasadena and Pass-A-Grille.
If a tooth feels cracked, worn or fragile, do not wait for it to break. Call (727) 363-6169 for an exam. If you are already in pain, ask for a same-day emergency appointment.
