Serving the Charlotte, Steele Creek, Uptown Charlotte, Pineville, and Fort Mill. NC Communities

Damaged or missing teeth in Steele Creek, NC can do a real number on your self-esteem. But in addition to making you feel self-conscious or insecure about your smile, your missing or damaged teeth pose a risk to your healthy teeth. If you don’t repair or replace them, you jeopardize your entire smile.  

Dental crowns and dental bridges in Uptown Charlotte, NC can restore damaged or missing teeth. These permanent teeth replacements will enable you to eat, talk, and laugh without feeling self-conscious. They look completely natural—and they will help protect you from losing more teeth.

Talk to Dr. H. Justin Harlow at Harlow Dental at Steele Creek to learn more about your best option for repair or replacement. Don’t risk compromising the health of your entire mouth!

What are dental crowns?

A dental crown is a common restoration used to repair a tooth that has significantly broken down. It fits over the remaining tooth structure and looks like a natural tooth. The dental crown is designed to protect and strengthen a tooth that is unstable to prevent continued damage, toothache, or eventual tooth loss.

Dental crowns are indirect restorations, which means we rely on a local dental laboratory to create them. When your dental crown is complete, we will have you back to one of our Charlotte, NC dental offices to place the final restoration.

It’s not unusual for people to have large fillings in their back molars. Over time, the fillings begin to fracture. These large fillings leave very little of the natural tooth structure intact, so replacing the filling isn’t an option.

A dental crown is your best bet for repairing the tooth—and preventing further damage.
Crowns can also be used to “cap” teeth that are worn, oddly shaped or discolored. Dental crowns are made to match the color of your natural teeth, so they blend in perfectly.

Teeth grinding that leads to wear or fractures may require dental crowns to restore the bite and chewing function. Worn teeth often feel sensitive, and a dental crown will alleviate sensitivity.

Dental crowns also anchor dental bridges in place.

What is the procedure for dental crowns in Charlotte, NC?

First, Dr. Harlow will take an x-ray of the area in question to assess the health of the tooth root and jawbone. He will be able to determine whether a crown is the best course of treatment.
Before placing the crown, the tooth will be shaped to make room for the restoration. 

Dr. Harlow will shape the remaining tooth structure and build it up using a post and composite material if necessary. Of course, we always make sure that the dentistry we provide in our Charlotte dental offices is gentle and comfortable.

An impression is made of the existing tooth structure so your crown can be custom made to fit.

When the crown is back from the lab, it is cemented permanently in place. Dr. Harlow will adjust it as needed, so it is perfectly comfortable.

What types of dental crowns are there?

Every patient is different, and while we place many tooth-colored porcelain crowns to maintain the aesthetic of the smile, sometimes patients need a porcelain and metal variety or a full gold crown for the back teeth where most of the force of chewing occurs.

We will be happy to discuss your options with you. Contact one of our Charlotte dental offices to make an appointment to learn more about dental crowns.

After a root canal, a crown strengthens it since root removal may leave the tooth brittle and fragile. Removing the nerve and blood supply permanently eliminates the source of nutrition for the tooth. 

A dental crown combined with a root canal can add years, or even decades, onto the life of a tooth.

Why would I need a dental crown rather than a standard filling?

Dental fillings are used to seal a tooth after cavity treatment. Fillings, however, do not strengthen a tooth. Large fillings can sometimes weaken a tooth. In these instances, placing a dental crown instead of a filling will provide patients with a more long-term and reliable option.

How should I take care of my new dental crown?

As with your natural teeth, caring for your dentistry will protect your smile. Proper home care that includes brushing twice daily and flossing at least once per day is recommended. Staying on top of your routine dental exams and cleanings in our Charlotte dental offices will go a long way to protect your smile.

If you notice that your dental crown is loose or damaged, it’s time for a trip to one of your Charlotte family dental offices, Harlow Dental at Steele Creek and Uptown Charlotte, NC. We will help protect your smile and repair or replace your dental crown so you can eat the foods you love without concern.

An excellent preventive routine is the best dental insurance you can have!

If you are missing one tooth or multiple adjacent teeth, Dr. Harlow might recommend a bridge to fill in the space that remains. A natural-looking dental bridge will blend in with your natural teeth and enable you to chew normally again. Or, we might decide to use implant supported bridges which are supported by dental implants rather than a bridge. 

In addition to your ability to chew correctly, filling in the spaces left by missing teeth is an important way to protect the rest of your teeth. When these gaps are left unfilled, the rest of the teeth in your mouth can start to shift.

This may not sound serious, but ultimately, your bite will be affected—as will your ability to chew properly. This can lead to more tooth loss which leads to tooth replacement. A bridge, cemented into place to either your natural teeth or to dental crowns, prevents movement, saving the rest of your teeth.

How do I care for my dental bridge?

Dental bridges require some special care to keep them clean. Food can become impacted around the bridge structure. While the bridge will not decay, your supporting teeth can. We will show you how to care for your dental bridge in our Charlotte, NC dental offices, which can include special floss threaders and tiny brushes to keep the teeth and gums healthy.

Taking care of your dental bridge can add length to its service and help you prevent gum disease and bad breath.

Get Your Own Custom Treatment Plan with Your Charlotte Dentist

You don’t have to live with damaged or missing teeth. We invite the families in Charlotte and the surrounding communities to contact us to learn more about custom dental crowns and custom dental bridges. Give us a call at Harlow Dental at Steele Creek and Uptown Charlotte, NC about a restorative treatment plan just for you.