Dental Crowns in Germantown, MD

Total Dental Care offers dental crowns in Germantown, MD. Call us today at 240-813-9111 to learn more and schedule an appointment.

Dental crowns are a restorative solution for teeth that are decayed or otherwise damaged. With a crown, the healthy portion of the tooth can be saved, while the damaged portion is removed and then replaced with a restoration that surrounds the remaining tooth structure.

When you come to our office for a dental crown, the first step is to have impressions taken so we can create a model of your teeth and bite. This model is used to ensure that your restoration looks and functions like your natural tooth. Next, your tooth is prepared by removing areas that are decayed and damaged. An impression is taken of the prepared tooth, which allows us to create a crown that fits securely. When your restoration is ready, it will be bonded or cemented to your tooth.

We offer the following types of dental crowns at our practice:

Ceramic crowns are made with a tooth-colored porcelain-based material for a natural appearance. This type of crown is most often used for teeth that are visible when you smile.

Porcelain fused to metal crowns combine the strength of metal with the aesthetics of ceramic crowns. These restorations are also used for teeth near the front of the mouth.

Gold alloy is the strongest material we have for crowns. It is often used to fabricate crowns for molars, especially for patients who grind their teeth.

Base metal alloy crowns are strong, durable, and resistant to corrosion. They are a good choice to restore teeth where there isn’t enough existing structure to support other types of crowns.

Our knowledgeable team of dental professionals will help select the type of crown best suited to your unique needs. 

Our amazing team of dental professionals will help select the type of crown best suited to your particular needs. 

Your tooth and the area surrounding it will be numbed with local anesthetic injections, so you will not feel any pain during the procedure to prepare your tooth for a crown. The crown placement itself does not hurt at all. Some patients do experience some sensitivity after the procedure to prepare the tooth.

The cost of a crown depends on the type of material being used, the tooth being restored, and the extent of work needed. We will provide you with an estimate prior to your procedure. Most dental insurance plans cover at least part of the cost of crowns.

It’s always advisable to save the tooth whenever possible in order to maintain bone structure in the jaw. A tooth extraction only creates more problems in the future, so it is used as a last resort.

Gold crowns last the longest, although the trade-off is in aesthetics—most patients don’t want gold crowns that are visible when they smile. For this reason, gold restorations are usually reserved for molars.

Porcelain crowns last between five and 15 years on average. Crowns made with metal alloys last longer than porcelain if longevity is a concern.