When a tooth is cracked, heavily decayed, or worn down past the point of a simple filling, dental crowns in Hurricane offer a reliable way to restore strength and function. At Kendrick Dental Care, we treat crowns as a preservation tool first. The goal is always to keep your natural tooth intact and working, and a well-placed crown does exactly that.
What a Dental Crown Actually Does
A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that fits over a damaged or weakened tooth. It covers everything above the gumline, protecting the underlying structure from further damage while restoring your ability to chew normally. Crowns are made to match the shape and color of your surrounding teeth, so they blend in without drawing attention.
We recommend crowns when a tooth has been compromised in a way that a filling alone cannot fix. Common situations include:
- A large cavity that has removed too much tooth structure to support a filling
- A cracked or fractured tooth that needs reinforcement to stay intact
- A tooth that has undergone root canal treatment, which often leaves it brittle and prone to fracture
- Significant wear from grinding has broken down the biting surface
If a crown is not the right fit, we will tell you. Alternatives like onlays or, in some cases, extraction are worth discussing depending on what the tooth looks like and what makes the most sense long-term.
The Crown Process at Our Hurricane Office
Getting dental crowns in Hurricane typically requires two visits, and we walk you through each step so there are no surprises.
At the first appointment, we numb the area and prepare the tooth by removing decay and reshaping the surface so that the crown fits securely. We take impressions and X-rays to send to our dental lab, where your permanent crown is custom-fabricated to match your bite. Before you leave, we place a temporary crown to protect the tooth while you wait.
When your permanent crown is ready, you come back in for the second visit. We check the fit, make any minor adjustments, and bond the crown into place. From that point on, it functions just like a natural tooth.
If you have dental anxiety, let us know before your appointment. We offer nitrous oxide to help you stay comfortable throughout the process.
How Long Do Crowns Last?
With proper care, a crown can last well over a decade. The lifespan depends largely on where it is in your mouth, what it is made of, and how well you maintain it. Crowns on back teeth, which handle more chewing pressure, tend to wear faster than those on front teeth.
Daily habits that protect your crown include:
- Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
- Flossing at the gumline carefully to avoid loosening the crown over time
- Avoiding hard foods like ice, hard candy, or unpopped popcorn kernels
If you grind your teeth at night, a custom mouthguard is worth considering. Grinding puts significant force on crowns and natural teeth alike, and protecting them is far simpler than replacing them.
Signs Your Crown Needs Attention
Crowns are durable but not permanent. Knowing when something is off can save you from more complicated treatment down the road.
Contact us if you notice any of the following:
- Persistent pain or sensitivity around the crowned tooth
- A crown that feels loose or shifts when you bite down
- A visible chip or crack in the crown material
- A dark line forming at the gumline, which may indicate decay underneath
In most cases, issues caught early can be addressed with recementing or a repair. If the crown or the tooth beneath it has deteriorated significantly, replacement may be the better route. We assess each situation individually rather than defaulting to the most involved option.
Dental Crowns in Hurricane: Fitting Into Your Overall Dental Health
A crown is one piece of a broader picture. If your tooth needed a crown because of decay, that is worth addressing on the preventive side going forward. If you have been avoiding the dentist and one tooth has reached this point, others may be heading in the same direction.
Our restorative dentistry services cover crowns alongside other treatments that rebuild damaged teeth. Our preventive dentistry services focus on keeping problems from developing in the first place. And if you ever have a tooth that needs urgent care, our emergency dental services are there when timing matters.
Dr. Kerry Kendrick and the rest of our team are here to help you understand your options and make decisions that stand the test of time.
Schedule Your Crown Consultation
If you have a tooth that has been bothering you or a dentist has mentioned a crown at a previous visit, do not put it off. Damaged teeth rarely improve on their own, and the longer a crack or cavity goes untreated, the more involved the fix tends to be.
Contact Kendrick Dental Care to schedule your visit, or get directions to our Hurricane, WV office if you are ready to come in. We will take a look at what is going on and walk you through exactly what a crown would involve for your specific tooth.