When You Might Need Dental Crowns in Clovis
Different situations call for crowns, and recognizing when one makes sense can help you address problems before they get worse.
Large Fillings That Keep Failing
When a filling takes up more than half of your tooth, the remaining structure becomes fragile. Biting forces can crack the thin walls of tooth enamel that are left. A crown surrounds the entire tooth, distributing pressure evenly so nothing breaks.
Teeth That Have Cracked
Cracks happen from grinding your teeth at night, chewing ice, or biting down on something unexpectedly hard. Small cracks might not hurt initially, but they tend to spread over time. A crown holds everything together and prevents the crack from worsening.
After Root Canal Treatment
Root canals remove the inner pulp of your tooth, including the blood vessels that kept it nourished. Without that internal support, the tooth becomes brittle and prone to breaking. Crowning a root canal-treated tooth protects it from fracturing when you chew.
Severe Decay or Wear
Teeth that have lost significant structure to decay or years of grinding down don’t have enough healthy enamel left to support a filling. Crowns rebuild what’s been lost and give you back a functional chewing surface.
Cosmetic Improvements
Sometimes a tooth is structurally sound but looks problematic—severely discolored, misshapen, or noticeably different from its neighbors. Crowns can address these appearance issues when other cosmetic options won’t work as well.
Types of Crown Materials
The material your crown is made from affects how it looks, how strong it is, and how much it costs. Dr. Matthew J. Malan can help you think through which option makes the most sense based on which tooth needs the crown and what matters most to you.
Porcelain Crowns
These look the most like natural teeth because porcelain mimics the translucency of tooth enamel. They’re an excellent choice for front teeth where appearance matters most. Modern porcelain is quite strong, though it’s not quite as durable as some other materials for heavy chewing on back molars.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns
These combine a metal base for strength with a porcelain outer layer for aesthetics. They’ve been used successfully for decades and offer a good balance of durability and appearance. The metal underneath can sometimes show as a dark line near the gumline, which makes them less ideal for your most visible teeth.
Gold Alloy Crowns
Gold crowns last longer than any other type and are incredibly gentle on the teeth they bite against. They’re also the most conservative option—less tooth structure needs to be removed to place them. The obvious drawback is the metallic appearance, so they’re typically reserved for back molars that don’t show when you smile.
Zirconia Crowns
This newer material offers strength similar to metal with an appearance closer to porcelain. Zirconia crowns work well for back teeth that need to withstand heavy chewing forces while still looking natural. They’re biocompatible and less likely to cause sensitivity than some other materials.
What Getting a Crown Involves
The process typically requires two visits spread a few weeks apart, though the time you spend in the chair at each appointment isn’t extensive.
During your first visit, the tooth gets prepared. This means removing decay if there is any, then reshaping the tooth so the crown will fit over it properly. You’ll receive local anesthesia so you won’t feel discomfort during this part. Once the tooth is shaped, detailed impressions get taken of your prepared tooth and the teeth around it. These impressions go to a dental lab where technicians create your custom crown.
You won’t leave with a gap in your smile. A temporary crown covers your prepared tooth while the permanent one is being made. The temporary protects your tooth and lets you chew normally, though you’ll want to be a bit careful with sticky or very hard foods on that side.
When your permanent crown is ready, you come back for the second appointment. The temporary comes off, and the new crown gets checked for fit and color match. Once everything looks right, it gets cemented permanently into place. The whole appointment usually takes less than an hour.
Getting Used to Your New Crown
A newly placed crown might feel a bit odd for the first few days. Your bite might seem slightly different, or the tooth might feel more prominent than it did before. These sensations usually fade quickly as you adjust. If your bite still feels off after a week or two, a quick adjustment can fix it.
Some people experience brief sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures right after getting a crown. This typically resolves on its own within a few weeks as your tooth settles. If sensitivity persists or gets worse, it’s worth mentioning at your next checkup.
How Long Crowns Last
With proper care, dental crowns in Clovis typically last 10-15 years, and many people get much longer out of them. How long yours lasts depends partly on the material and partly on how you treat it.
The crown itself won’t decay, but the natural tooth underneath still can if plaque builds up around the edges where the crown meets your gum. Brushing and flossing daily protects that margin and keeps your gums healthy around the crown.
Grinding or clenching your teeth puts extra stress on crowns. If you do this—especially at night when you’re not aware of it—a nightguard can protect both your crown and your natural teeth from excessive wear.
Avoid using your crowned tooth to bite fingernails, open packages, or chew ice. While crowns are strong, porcelain can chip under the wrong kind of pressure, just like natural enamel can.
Protecting What You Have
Your natural teeth are worth saving when it’s possible to do so. Crowns give damaged teeth a second chance, letting them stay in your mouth and function normally for years to come. If you’ve been told you need a crown or you’re dealing with a tooth that’s causing problems, getting it addressed sooner rather than later usually means a simpler solution.
Contact Matthew J. Malan, DDS, to talk through what’s happening with your tooth and find out if a crown is the right answer. Schedule your appointment and give that tooth the protection it needs.