Service: Crowns and Veneers

What is a Crown?

Crowns (caps): A laboratory fabricated, custom restoration that reproduces the tooth structure exposed in the mouth beyond the gingiva (gums), while holding together and replacing the damaged tooth structure that it is cemented over. Crowns are generally constructed for severely damaged or worn teeth, teeth that have very large fillings, or teeth that have had root canal therapy. They are also made to cover the tops of dental implants used to replace a whole missing tooth.

Treatment consists of numbing, and removal of old fillings and decay (cavities). Deeper areas of missing tooth structure are replaced before shaping of the tooth begins.

Shaping and contouring is the main procedure of crowning a tooth and the most time consuming. After shaping is completed, a very accurate impression (mold) is created of the prepared tooth structures. A temporary crown is then made and cemented over the prepared tooth to protect it while the permanent (real) crown is fabricated by the dental laboratory.

Crowns can be made of different materials to achieve different results. If the crown is in an area where esthetics is important, it is made with porcelain to match the surrounding teeth. In cases where esthetics is less of an issue, a crown can be made of gold.

Crowns replace much of the tooth structure as long as they have an adequate amount of tooth upon which to be cemented.

Dental Bridges

If you're missing one or more teeth, you may notice a difference in chewing and speaking. There are options to help restore your smile. Bridges help maintain the shape of your face, as well as alleviating the stress in your bite by replacing missing teeth.

Sometimes called a fixed partial denture, a bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth, looks great, and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been. The restoration can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials and is bonded onto surrounding teeth for support.

An implant bridge attaches artificial teeth directly to the jaw or under the gum tissue. Depending on which type of bridge your dentist recommends, its success depends on its foundation. So it's very important to keep your remaining teeth healthy and strong.

What is a Veneer?

Porcelain Veneers: A laboratory made custom device that is used to adjust the color, size, shape, spaced between and alignments of the front teeth. Veneers are always made of very life-like porcelain that is bonded onto the fronts of the teeth to achieve the desired results. Treatment is usually approached with the idea of improving the whole smile and therefore, when veneering is performed, it is usually done to the front 6 to 8 teeth, depending upon the size of the patient’s smile.

Groups of veneers prepared at the same time can achieve superior esthetic results than the same number of veneers done individually. The reason for this is that as the dental laboratory is manufacturing the veneers, spacing and size issues can be corrected. They are more durable and have a more life-like appearance than composite veneers.

Treatment consists of numbing and shaping (grinding) of the existing tooth structure to allow room for porcelain. A very accurate impression (mold) is created of the prepared and adjacent tooth structures. Temporary veneers are then made and placed over the prepared teeth for the duration of time the dental laboratory needs to construct the permanent set of porcelain veneers.

Veneers are used on mostly intact teeth, not on teeth with large fillings or that are severely damaged.

How It Helps You

Crown and veneer work is usually approached with the idea of improving the whole smile. It helps restore or improve your natural look.

Our Work

We are experts in crown and veneer work. Don't hesitate to contact us!

For over 30 years, dentist Dr. Michael Potts D.D.S. has served Ventura County, California for dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, and general dentistry. Dr. Potts is a dentist who is excited about new cosmetic concepts in dentistry. He also places and restores dental implants in the same office. We have a great staff, the right equipment, and an on-site laboratory to serve you professionally and quickly!