Washington, DC Cosmetic Dentistry
Porcelain Crowns
A porcelain crown can restore a single damaged tooth back to its original form and function. These restorations are cemented onto the teeth and are referred to as "fixed" dentistry rather than using a removable appliance or partial denture.
While dental crowns have been around for many decades, a new generation of fine-grade porcelain gives today’s porcelain crowns the astonishing look of real teeth. Mimicking nature’s pearlescent glow and translucency, these crowns are difficult to distinguish next to their natural-born neighbors. Also, newer, stronger materials eliminate the need for metal under layers that cast an unsightly dark shadow under the gum line. (Some older crowns have this appearance and are often replaced to achieve a more esthetic result.) The newer techniques in fashioning crowns also allow crowns to fit seamlessly into the bite.
If you live in the northern Virginia/Washington, D.C. area, there is a dental practice that can improve your smile and the health of your mouth through a variety of cosmetic dentistry procedures and treatments. The Washington Center for Cosmetic Dentistry has a team of highly trained and artistic cosmetic dentists who are thrilled to give you the smile you have always dreamed about!
What is a crown and who needs it?
A crown is an exact porcelain replica of the natural tooth it is covering. The new porcelain cover preserves and protects the remaining shell of the tooth. The crown covers the entire visible surface of the tooth, leaving it strong and durable. The crown serves as the tooth’s new outer surface.
Age, grinding teeth, a misaligned bite, large fillings and tooth decay all cause teeth to wear, crack, or break resulting in the need for a crown. In other cases, crowns replace missing teeth. These crowns are anchored to the teeth on either side, with a “bridge” section spanning the space and connecting the two crowns.
Here’s how crowns are placed:
- At the first appointment, one of our cosmetic dentists reshapes the tooth structure and repairs any defects to prepare it to receive the new crown.
- The dentist makes an “impression” of the tooth that needs a crown.
- The impression is sent to the dental lab where the crown is made.
- Patients usually leave the office with a specially fashioned crown that already looks a lot like the permanent crown. This gives the dentist and patient a wonderful chance to talk about plans for the color and shape of the permanent crown.
- When the permanent crown is ready, it is cemented to the tooth with special, long-lasting cement.
If you would like to learn more about porcelain crowns and whether or not this solution would work for you, please contact The Washington Center for Cosmetic Dentistry today to schedule your appointment. The Washington Center for Dentistry has been serving cosmetic dentistry patients in the Washington area for almost two decades. If you live in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C. or Maryland, treat yourself to the smile makeover you deserve!
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Frequently Asked Tooth Crown Questions
Our doctors and our experienced staff perform general and cosmetic dentistry including Porcelain Crowns for their patients throughout Washington, District of Columbia (DC), Maryland, Northern Virginia, around the country and around the world.
If you are considering porcelain crowns in the Washington, DC area, please call or e-mail us today to schedule your initial consultation.





