How to Care for Dental Crowns

How to Care for Dental Crowns

How to Care for Dental Crowns

Tips for Maintaining Your Crown After Placement

Dental crowns are a fantastic solution for restoring damaged or weakened teeth, providing strength, functionality, and a natural appearance. To ensure your dental crowns last as long as possible, proper care is essential. At Kissing Camels Family Dentistry, we’re here to guide you on maintaining your crowns for a beautiful, long-lasting smile. Here’s everything you need to know about caring for your dental crowns, brought to you by the best dentist in Colorado Springs, CO.

Understanding Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are custom-made caps that cover and protect a tooth damaged by decay, fractures, or other issues. Made from materials like porcelain, ceramic, or metal, crowns are designed to look and function like natural teeth. With proper care, they can last 10-15 years or longer, making them a durable and worthwhile investment in your oral health.

Tips for Caring for Dental Crowns

  1. Maintain Excellent Oral Hygiene
    While dental crowns themselves are resistant to decay, the underlying tooth and surrounding gum tissue still require protection. Follow these steps for optimal oral hygiene:

    • Brush twice daily using fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristle toothbrush.
    • Floss daily to remove food particles and plaque around the crown and gumline.
    • Consider using an antibacterial mouthwash to reduce bacteria in your mouth.

  2. Avoid Hard or Sticky Foods
    To prevent unnecessary wear or damage, avoid chewing on hard items like ice, hard candy, or nuts. Sticky foods, such as caramel or taffy, can pull at the crown and potentially loosen it. If you have a habit of chewing on objects like pens, it’s best to break it to protect your dental work.

  3. Wear a Nightguard if Necessary
    If you grind or clench your teeth at night, wearing a custom nightguard can protect your crowns from excessive force and wear. Teeth grinding, or bruxism, can significantly reduce the lifespan of your crowns and other dental restorations.

  4. Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
    Routine visits to Kissing Camels Family Dentistry are crucial for maintaining your dental health and ensuring your crowns stay in top condition. During your checkups, our team will examine your crowns for any signs of damage or wear and provide professional cleanings to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

  5. Address Any Issues Promptly
    If you notice any changes with your dental crown, such as sensitivity, discomfort, or loosening, don’t wait to address it. Prompt care can prevent minor issues from becoming major problems. Contact the best dentist in Colorado Springs, CO, for immediate assistance.

Foods to Eat and Avoid with Dental Crowns

While dental crowns are durable, making smart dietary choices can extend their lifespan.

Best Foods for Dental Crowns:

  • Soft fruits like bananas, berries, and peaches
  • Cooked vegetables such as carrots and spinach
  • Lean proteins like chicken, fish, and eggs
  • Dairy products, including yogurt and cheese

Foods to Limit or Avoid:

  • Hard foods like popcorn kernels and hard candies
  • Sticky foods such as gum and caramel
  • Sugary snacks that can promote decay near the crown’s edges
  • Acidic beverages like soda, which can erode the surrounding tooth enamel

Long-Term Benefits of Proper Care

Taking care of your dental crowns not only ensures their longevity but also helps maintain your overall oral health. Well-maintained crowns:

  • Prevent further damage to the tooth underneath
  • Protect neighboring teeth by maintaining proper bite alignment
  • Enhance your smile, boosting your confidence

Why Choose Kissing Camels Family Dentistry?

At Kissing Camels Family Dentistry, we understand the importance of personalized care for your dental health. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing the best solutions for your smile, from crown placement to regular maintenance. As the best dentist in Colorado Springs, CO, we’re here to ensure your crowns look and function perfectly for years to come.

Contact Us

Caring for dental crowns doesn’t have to be complicated. By following good oral hygiene practices, making mindful dietary choices, and visiting Kissing Camels Family Dentistry regularly, you can enjoy the full benefits of your crowns for years. If you have questions or need expert care, contact us today. Together, we’ll ensure your smile stays strong and healthy!

A Dental Filling Vs. A Dental Crown

A Dental Filling Vs. A Dental Crown

A Dental Filling Vs. A Dental Crown

Choosing the Right Restoration: Comparing Dental Fillings and Dental Crowns in Colorado Springs

When it comes to dental restorations, understanding your options is crucial. Dental fillings and dental crowns are two common treatments for restoring damaged or decayed teeth. Each has its unique benefits and indications. Explore the differences between dental fillings and dental crowns to help you decide which restoration is best for you.

Dental Fillings: A Minimally Invasive Solution

Dental fillings are a popular choice for treating cavities and minor tooth damage. Composite resin, amalgam, gold, or porcelain materials typically make them up. Here’s what you need to know about dental fillings:

  • Minimally Invasive: Dental fillings require minimal removal of tooth structure, making them a conservative option for preserving natural tooth tissue.
  • Versatile: Fillings can repair small to moderate cavities, chips, cracks, and worn tooth surfaces.
  • Quick Procedure: Dental fillings are a quick and straightforward procedure, often completed in just one dentist visit.
  • Natural Appearance: Tooth-colored composite fillings blend seamlessly with the natural teeth, providing a discreet and aesthetically pleasing restoration.
  • Affordable: Dental fillings are often more cost-effective than dental crowns, making them a budget-friendly option for many patients.

Dental Crowns: Restoring Strength and Function

Dental crowns, or caps, cover the visible part of a damaged tooth above the gumline. Here are the key features of dental crowns:

  • Comprehensive Coverage: Dental crowns provide full coverage and support to the entire tooth, unlike fillings which seal off small cavities.
  • Strength and Durability: Crowns are durable and ideal for heavily damaged teeth, as they withstand biting and chewing forces.
  • Customizable: Dental crowns are customizable to match the patient’s natural teeth perfectly in size, shape, color, and appearance.
  • Longevity: With proper care and maintenance, dental crowns can last for many years, providing long-term stability and functionality.
  • Versatility: Crowns repair severely decayed, fractured, or misshapen teeth and restore teeth post-root canal or implant placement.

Choosing Between Dental Fillings and Dental Crowns

Need help deciding between a dental filling or a dental crown for your dental needs? Here are some factors to consider:

  • Extent of Damage: Fillings address small to moderate cavities, while crowns restore extensively damaged or weakened teeth.
  • Location of the Tooth: Back teeth, under heavy chewing pressure, often need the added strength of a dental crown.
  • Cosmetic Concerns: For visible front teeth, patients may prefer tooth-colored fillings for a more natural appearance.
  • Budgetary Considerations: Consider the long-term benefits and durability of each restoration against its initial cost, as dental fillings are generally more affordable than dental crowns.

Consultation with the Best Dentist in Colorado Springs

Ultimately, you should consult your dentist to decide between a dental filling and a dental crown. A comprehensive oral examination, including X-rays and a discussion of your treatment goals and preferences, will help your dentist determine the most suitable restoration for your needs.

At Kissing Camels Family Dentistry in Colorado Springs, our experienced team dedicates itself to personalized care, ensuring optimal oral health and aesthetics. Whether you need a filling, crown, or any dental treatment, we’re here to support you at every step. Schedule a consultation with the best dentist in Colorado Springs today to explore your restoration options and restore your smile to its full potential.

The Benefits of Same-Day Crowns

The Benefits of Same-Day Crowns

The Benefits of Same-Day Crowns

The Benefits of Same-Day Crowns: Restoring Your Smile in a Single Appointment

In the realm of dental restoration, same-day crowns represent a revolutionary advancement that offers patients unparalleled convenience, efficiency, and comfort.

With same-day crowns, restore your smile in just one visit, eliminating the need for multiple appointments and temporary crowns. As the top dental provider in Colorado Springs, Kissing Camels Family Dentistry offers cutting-edge technology for a stress-free experience.

Understanding Same-Day Crowns

Using advanced CAD/CAM technology, Kissing Camels Family Dentistry custom-designs and crafts same-day crowns, also known as CEREC crowns, in-house. Same-day crowns, unlike traditional crowns, are milled and placed in one visit, eliminating the need for temporary restorations and return trips.

Using an intraoral scanner, the process starts by capturing digital impressions of the prepared tooth. Using these precise digital impressions, the dentist virtually designs the crown, ensuring optimal fit, aesthetics, and functionality. Once finalized, a computerized machine mills the restoration from ceramic. After milling, the dentist carefully polishes, glazes, and bonds the crown to the tooth, restoring its strength, function, and appearance.

The Benefits of Same-Day Crowns

  1. Time-Saving Convenience: One of the most significant advantages of same-day crowns is the time-saving convenience they offer. Traditional crowns usually involve multiple appointments over weeks, with patients wearing temporary crowns until the permanent one is ready. Same-day crowns streamline the treatment process, requiring just one visit and minimizing time away from work and other commitments.

  2. Immediate Results: Same-day crowns offer immediate results, restoring your smile in a single appointment. No waiting periods or temporary restorations – you can enjoy your new crown immediately without downtime.

  3. Customized Fit and Aesthetics: Same-day crowns custom-designed to fit your tooth precisely and blend seamlessly with your natural smile. The digital design process allows for precise customization of the restoration, ensuring optimal fit, comfort, and aesthetics. Whether one crown or many, same-day crowns cater to your needs, offering a natural and durable smile solution.

  4. Enhanced Comfort: Traditional crown placement often involves messy impressions and uncomfortable temporary restorations. With same-day crowns, the digital impression process is quick, comfortable, and precise, eliminating the need for traditional impression materials. Same-day crowns eliminate the need for temporary crowns, reducing the risk of discomfort and complications.

  5. Durable and Long-Lasting: Dentists craft same-day crowns from high-quality ceramic material that is both durable and aesthetically pleasing. These restorations endure daily use and can last for years with proper care. With same-day crowns, you can enjoy a strong, functional, and beautiful smile that stands the test of time.

Contact Us

Same-day crowns offer numerous benefits for patients seeking efficient, convenient, and high-quality dental restoration.

With Kissing Camels Family Dentistry, the top dentist in Colorado Springs, experience the benefits of same-day crowns in just one visit, restoring your smile fully. Say goodbye to multiple appointments and temporary restorations – schedule a consultation with us today and discover the transformative benefits of same-day crowns for yourself.

Temporary Crown Post-Op Instructions

temporary crown post-op instructions - Colorado Springs CO

Temporary Crown Post-Op Instructions

Temporary Crown Post-Op Instructions From Colorado Springs Dentist

Need a dental crown? Your dentist in Colorado Springs, CO, will need to put a temporary crown on first until your custom, permanent crown is made. Below, Dr. Cody Boals shares temporary crown post-op instructions. 

Temporary Crowns Must-Knows

So, if you have a temporary crown on right now, know that it’s there to protect your tooth until your permanent crown is ready. There is a possibility for your temporary to come off, so we are giving you a few tips and tricks to stop your temporary crown from coming off.  Watch our YouTube video to hear from Dr. Cody Boals. 

Brushing and Flossing

Dr. Boals recommends brushing normally around that area. But when you floss, go towards the gum line instead of coming back up or coming down – pull it right through. This will prevent the crown from popping up when you’re flossing. 

Broken Temporary Crown

So another thing that can happen is that temporary can crack. The temporary crown is made of acrylic, not the hard material your permanent crown is made out of. So, if it does crack, if it does pop off, if you’re eating sticky foods, or it just pops off, just give us a call. Don’t freak out. It’s not an emergency, but we’ll get you in right away to get that area cover back up and protected. So, wait on hard or sticky foods until we have the permanent crown on. If your permanent crown does fall off, contact an emergency dentist in Colorado Springs.

Permanent Dental Crown

Your temporary crown placement will get fitted in about two weeks from your first visit. Please don’t hesitate to contact Kissing Camels Family Dentistry if you have any questions or concerns about your temporary crown post-op instructions.