Dental Crowns in Monterey, CA
Restore Strength and Beauty with Custom Crowns
At Dr. Sarah Frahm’s Monterey dental office, we offer custom dental crowns to restore one or more of your teeth. Each crown is made of biocompatible, tooth-colored materials. This way, your crown(s) restore the health of your teeth and complement the appearance of your smile.
You’ve Got Options for Dental Crowns
Modern dentistry makes crown creation and placement comfortable for you. In our dental office, we offer two options for dental crowns. With CEREC technology we can fabricate and place your new, tooth-colored dental crown in a single visit. We also offer lab-made, tooth-colored dental crowns that can be placed in two visits.
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are custom-made ‘caps’ that cover and protect damaged or weakened teeth. They restore the tooth’s shape, size, strength, and appearance. Crowns are commonly used to:
- Restore a decayed, broken or severely worn tooth.
- Protect a tooth after a root canal.
- Hold a dental bridge in place.
- Cover misshapen or severely discolored teeth.
- Cover a dental implant.
We use strong, biocompatible materials like porcelain and ceramic for tooth-colored crowns.
Same Day Dental Crowns With CEREC Technology
At our Monterey office, we use cutting-edge CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) technology to design, fabricate, and place your crown during a single visit.
What to Expect:
- Digital Impressions: We take high-resolution digital scans of your tooth. No more messy trays.
- Precision Design: With CAD/CAM software, we custom design your crown to fit your bite and tooth anatomy.
- On-Site Fabrication: Your crown is milled on-site from durable ceramic that mimics natural enamel.
- Immediate Placement: Once it’s ready, we bond your new crown securely, in one visit.
No need to wait weeks or wear a temporary crown. This streamlined process saves you time and delivers lasting results.
Bio-Compatible Traditional Crowns
Dr. Frahm may recommend a traditional, tooth-colored crown based on your diagnosis. Lab-made crowns include a wide array of biocompatible materials designed for form and function.
What to Expect:
- Digital Impressions: We take high-resolution digital scans of your tooth. No more messy trays.
- Precision Design: Dr. Frahm designs your crown with the dental lab, accounting for fit and tooth anatomy.
- Temporary Crown: Dr. Frahm creates a temporary crown to protect your tooth while your permanent crown is created.
- Visits: During your first crown visit, we prepare your tooth and place the temporary crown. Your second visit is when your permanent crown is placed.
- Crown Placement: Dr. Frahm places your final crown, after checking for proper fit, and adding the final details to the crown contour to keep you looking great.
The traditional process can be advantageous for some patients. Dr. Frahm’s recommendations for tooth crowns are based on subjective health needs of each person we serve.
Caring for your Crown
With proper care, a custom crown can last many years. Here’s how to maintain yours:
- Brush and floss daily to prevent decay around the crown.
- Avoid chewing very hard foods or ice to prevent damage.
- Schedule regular cleanings and checkups to monitor your crown.
- Use a nightguard if you clench or grind your teeth (as recommended).
Dr. Frahm provides personalized aftercare instructions to help extend the life of your dental crown(s).
What Patients Are Saying
Frequently Asked Questions
During the first 24-48 hours after getting your dental crown, you must avoid hard, sticky, and chewy food that can loosen or dislodge it. See more tips on dental crown care with “Caring for Your Dental Crowns: A Guide for Patients.”
Most dental insurance plans partially cover dental crown costs. Contact your insurance company to confirm. Get an idea of dental crown prices with “How much do dental crowns cost?”
After getting your custom dental crown, you may experience sore gums and food sensitivity for over two weeks. Learn what to do if you experience pain with our “Do dental crowns hurt?” article.
During the dental crown procedure, Dr. Frahm administers a local anesthetic to numb the affected teeth and surrounding gum tissue, preventing discomfort. We also provide sedation dentistry if needed.
Custom dental crowns last between 5 and 15 years, depending on how much you care for your teeth. Poor dental hygiene and habits that wear down teeth, such as bruxism, can shorten the crown’s lifespan. See “Why do you need a dental crown?” to know more.
Contact Us
If you are ready to see how quickly and beautifully our custom dental crown techniques can transform your smile, please call (831)-372-8011 today or contact Dr. Sarah Frahm. We serve patients in and around the communities of Monterey, Carmel, and Pebble Beach.