Dental crowns and bridges are used every day to restore damaged teeth and replace missing teeth.

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.

Dental Crowns Are Also Cosmetic Restorations!

It's true. Dental crowns in Huntsville, besides saving teeth, can hide aesthetic flaws, giving you a whole new reason to smile. Below, we share a few ways dental crowns can help you reach your smile goals.

Stubborn Discoloration

Specific types of enamel stains can be difficult or impossible to treat with professional teeth whitening, but dental crowns and veneers can easily conceal discoloration.

Short and Worn Teeth

Short teeth can be cosmetically displeasing but also hard on your jaw joints and longer teeth. Dental crowns can lengthen teeth, giving you a beautiful and healthier smile.

General Imperfections

Cosmetic cracks, chips, and shape abnormalities are no match for dental crowns. Additionally, these cosmetic restorations can close small gaps between teeth.

Our Team

Meet More of our Staff

Dr. Brian K. Cook

Dr. Brian K. Cook was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. In 2005, he received his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of South Alabama with magna cum laude honors, before going on to ...

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Dr. Caroline Kestner

Dr. Kestner is a native of Huntsville, Alabama and a graduate of Randolph School. Her undergraduate education was completed at Auburn University, where she graduated magna cum laude with a major in Biomedical ...

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Bridges: A Solution for Missing Teeth

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.

Dental Crowns and Bridges Smile Gallery

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a dental crown?

A dental crown is a restoration designed to closely mimic and completely cover a severely damaged or decayed tooth. The crown closely mimics your compromised tooth's shape and shade to blend flawlessly into your smile.

Our dentists typically recommend porcelain crowns for visible teeth because they can customize the porcelain to complement your smile. However, gold crowns may be recommended for molars. Gold is durable and biocompatible, making it an excellent choice for teeth that absorb the most impact of chewing force.

The Process of Completing Dental Crowns in Huntsville, AL

You'll need two visits with your Huntsville dentist to complete a dental crown.

At the first visit, your dentist prepares your tooth for its new restoration, takes impressions of your smile for accuracy, and creates a temporary crown for you to wear while a dental lab handcrafts the final version.

The dental lab will take two to three weeks to finish your final crown. When it's ready, you'll return to Twickenham Family Dentistry to have your new tooth permanently placed by one of our dentists.

We'll make any necessary adjustments to the crown at the time of placement, and then you can enjoy your new tooth fully.

If you have questions about dental crowns, call your team at Twickenham Family Dentistry at (256) 539-4079 for more information.

How long do dental crowns and bridges last?

Dental crowns generally last between 10 and 15 years with proper care, a similar survival rate to dental bridges. The material your dentist uses makes a difference in how long it lasts. Porcelain crowns match your natural teeth and hold up well with good oral hygiene. At Twickenham Family Dentistry, we may recommend gold crowns for your back teeth, which are often subjected to heavy chewing. These crowns can last even longer than porcelain crowns. Dental bridges are generally made from porcelain, metal, zirconia, resin, or some combination of these materials.

Your daily oral health habits impact longevity as well.

Flossing your teeth daily, including around the crown or dental bridge, helps prevent bacteria from accumulating in the area. Brushing twice daily also protects your restorations. If you grind your teeth at night, getting a custom nightguard from your dentist will protect your dental work from excessive wear.

What you put in your mouth also plays a role in longevity. Stay away from things that can harm your crown or bridge, like chewing ice, opening things with your teeth, or biting down on hard foods in the area where your restoration lives. The location of your crown or bridge also plays a role. Back teeth are stronger and can handle more chewing force than front teeth, which may impact your restoration’s longevity.

Get regular checkups at your dentist so that they can monitor your crown or bridge’s condition and catch minor problems before they become more serious and costly.

Schedule Your Crown Consultation Today

If you need a dental bridge or dental crown in Huntsville, or want to check on an existing one, call Twickenham Family Dentistry at (256) 539-4079.

Blogs

Photos of dental crowns in Huntsville, AL

March 28, 2023

How to Properly Care for Your Dental Crowns

There are a variety of reasons why you may have to go to the dentist and have some work done on your teeth. Maybe you’re experiencing some pain, and you aren’t sure what the cause is, or perhaps you cracked your tooth when you bit into something crunchy or hard. Your dentist in Huntsville, AL, may tell you a dental crown is necessary to save your tooth. If that’s the case, you will need to be informed about the dental crown procedure and how to care for your crown after ...