Dental Crowns & Bridges in Huntsville, AL

Dental crowns are full coverage restorations that improve your tooth’s function, appearance, and integrity. We place dental crowns at our Huntsville, AL dental office to protect brittle, damaged, or root-canaled teeth. If you have a tooth that is severely damaged, it may not be strong enough to repair with a filling. We recommend a dental crown for a tooth that is too damaged for a dental filling, but not so compromised that we need to remove it.

A dental crown looks like a tooth, but it is a protective restoration that covers the entire surface of your real tooth up to the gums.

In most cases, we make our dental crowns using porcelain materials that match your smile. For teeth that need to withstand a lot of chewing force, we may also recommend gold crowns. The location and function of your tooth determine which is most appropriate.

Protection and Restoration

Why are crowns necessary? Dr. Cook will typically recommend this comprehensive restoration if you have:

• Severe tooth decay
• A large fracture
• Been treated with a root canal
• A worn-down tooth from grinding or erosion that needs reinforcement
• A misshapen or discolored tooth that impacts the aesthetics of your smile
• A dental implant that requires a crown to restore function and appearance

What to Expect When Getting a Dental Crown in Huntsville, AL

The first part of any dental treatment is a private consultation to review your treatment plan. We’ll go over your recommended procedure, alternatives available, and a predetermination of your insurance coverage. This eliminates any confusion regarding out of pocket costs or the overall fees related to your care.

Next, we will book an appointment to prepare for your dental crown. During this appointment, Dr. Cook will numb the tooth and remove all of the damaged tooth structure. We then take a detailed impression, which is used by our lab to create a customized restoration. A temporary dental crown will cover your tooth in the meantime, to prevent any sensitivity.

In about two weeks, you’ll come back for us to try your permanent crown in and make any necessary adjustments. Once it’s ready, it is bonded permanently to your underlying tooth.

Please be sure to floss your new crown daily, to prevent bacteria from accumulating around the margins and causing new decay. We also encourage preventive cleanings every six months.

Losing a tooth can be stressful and difficult for anyone. You may wonder whether or not you can restore your familiar, natural smile now that you have an uneven gap between your teeth. If you’ve lost a tooth, Dr. Cook wants you to know there is a way to restore your healthy smile using a beautiful fixed bridge.

Is a Dental Bridge Right for Me?

Through a private consultation and precise evaluation with Dr. Cook, you may be considered an ideal candidate for a dental bridge. Typically this type of restorative option is used when:

• Healthy teeth are on either side of the missing tooth
• We need to keep teeth from drifting
• Restoration is needed for a natural bite
• Preservation of the tooth is needed for normal speech
• We want to maintain support for facial features 

The Process for Getting a Dental Bridge

Dr. Cook will work with you to come up with a plan to fit your needs. Typically, placing this type of dental appliance will require only a couple of office visits after the initial consultation and evaluation. On your first visit, we will prepare the healthy teeth on either side of your missing tooth for crowns. We will take impressions so we can create a customized dental bridge that perfectly matches the missing tooth.

On your second visit, we will securely set the crowns on your healthy teeth with the natural replacement tooth filling the gap in between.

Answering Your Questions in the Huntsville Area

If you are unsure whether this is the right solution for you, we encourage you to contact us at our conveniently located Huntsville office. Our experienced and caring staff is happy to aid you in answering all your dental-related questions. Call us at (256) 539-4079.