Dental Crown Vancouver, WA

Dental crowns are one of the most common and effective procedures in restorative dentistry. Whether you’re dealing with a damaged tooth or looking to improve cosmetic flaws, crowns at our Vancouver, WA, dental office can be an excellent choice.

At Hazel Dell Dental Care, Dr. Erik Jenson uses crowns to save teeth that might otherwise need to be pulled. He also uses them to make smiles look better. And because he is Dawson-trained, he doesn’t just slap a crown on and call it a day. He makes sure it fits your bite, works with your jaw, and lasts for years. Here’s what you need to know.

What Exactly Is a Dental Crown?

Think of a crown like a helmet for your tooth. Your natural tooth has a visible part (the crown) and a root (below the gum line). When that visible part is damaged, cracked, decayed, worn down, or broken, a dental crown covers it completely. It wraps around the tooth like a protective cap.

The result is a tooth that looks normal, feels normal, and works like normal. You can chew, smile, and brush without thinking about it.

Why Would You Need a Crown?

Crowns solve a lot of problems. Here are the most common reasons Dr. Jenson recommends them:

• Your Tooth Is Cracked or Weakened: Sometimes a tooth has a crack that’s not visible to the naked eye. You might feel pain when you bite down, or you might feel nothing at all. Either way, that crack can get worse over time. A crown holds the tooth together and prevents the crack from spreading.
• Your Tooth Has a Large Filling: Fillings are great. But when a filling gets too large, there is not enough natural tooth left to support it. The tooth becomes weak. A crown covers and protects what is left, giving you years of additional life out of that tooth.
• You Just Had a Root Canal: After a root canal, your tooth becomes more brittle. It’s still there and functional, but it needs protection. A crown covers the tooth and prevents it from cracking under normal chewing pressure.
• Cover a Dental Implant: Dental implants are the best way to replace missing teeth. But the implant post itself is just a metal anchor. The crown is the part that looks like a tooth. It attaches to the implant and completes your smile.
• You Have a Misshapen or Discolored Tooth: Sometimes a tooth is perfectly healthy but just doesn’t look right. Maybe it’s too small or an odd shape. Maybe it’s a different color than the teeth around it. A crown can fix all of that.
• You Need to Anchor a Dental Bridge: If you are missing one or more teeth, a bridge fills the gap. Crowns on the teeth on either side of the gap hold the bridge in place. It’s a team effort.

The Crown Process at Hazel Dell Dental Care

First Visit: Preparation

Getting a crown usually takes two visits. During the first visit, Dr. Jenson starts by numbing the area. You won’t feel pain.

He then shapes the tooth to make room for the crown. How much tooth he removes depends on the type of crown. For a porcelain crown, he removes a little. For a metal crown, he removes even less.

Once the tooth is shaped, he takes digital scans of your mouth. He sends these scans to a dental lab where skilled technicians fabricate your custom crown.

In the meantime, Dr. Jenson places a temporary crown on your tooth. It protects the tooth and looks natural. You can eat normally, but you will want to avoid sticky or hard foods on that side.

Between Visits (About Two to Three Weeks)

Your permanent crown is being made. The lab matches the color, shape, and size to your surrounding teeth. When it comes back, it should look like it belongs in your mouth.

Second Visit: Placement

You come back to our Vancouver office. Dr. Jenson removes the temporary crown and checks the fit of the new one. He makes sure your bite feels right and that you are not hitting the crown too hard or too soft when you close your teeth together.

This is where his Dawson training matters. An ill-fitting crown can throw off your bite, causing jaw pain, headaches, or even damage to the crown itself. Dr. Jenson takes the time to get it right.

Once everything is perfect, he permanently secures the crown. You walk out with a fully restored tooth.