You and your friend are discussing dental work, and she says she'd rather have an ailing tooth extracted than have it restored. After all, aren't dental crowns expensive and complicated? Frankly, your friend is wrong. In the long run, crowns cost less and spare you the complex process of tooth replacement. If you have a tooth with significant enamel loss, cracks, multiple fillings or even abscess and decay, a porcelain crown (or cap) from your Fresno, CA dentist, Dr. Curt Posey, can bring your smile back to full health and great function--no extraction necessary.

Protect your tooth

Tooth loss is the last thing you want, and it's so unnecessary, too, when you can take advantage of a tried and true restorative procedure called the dental crown. A crown recreates natural tooth structure and protects remaining healthy enamel. In addition, when you choose restoration rather than extraction, you avoid the consequence of tooth loss such as:

• Unattractive smile gaps
• Bone loss
• Gum recession
• Remaining teeth drifting toward the empty space

Your Fresno dentist places a crown

Dr. Posey uses digital X-rays, an evaluation of your symptoms and oral examination to choose the best restoration for your tooth. If that's a crown, expect to spend two visits at the office--one for reshaping the tooth and the other for bonding the new crown in place.

Your new crown will look just like your natural tooth--only without the decay, fillings or defects which have compromised it in the first place. Dr. Posey typically uses porcelain as his material of choice. It's realistic, durable and versatile, meaning it can be used almost anywhere in the mouth.

Porcelain crowns also restore dental implants for superior tooth replacement and attach fixed bridgework to adjoining natural teeth. They cover abscessed teeth healed by root canal therapy, too. All in all, a crown is a great tool in the hands of a skilled dentist and a definite boon to the patient who wants a complete and healthy set of teeth.

Today's crowns fit accurately, modeled after oral impressions and Dr. Posey's specific treatment instructions. In addition, with routine brushing, flossing and cleanings with Dr. Posey and his team, these restorations last a decade or even more, says the American Dental Association. If you receive a crown and have issues with teeth clenching (bruxism), ask Dr. Posey about a night guard to reduce wear on your restoration.

Find out more

Dr. Posey will be happy to tell you all about dental crowns and how they're used. Contact him at his Fresno, CA office at (559) 227-6755 and arrange your consultation.