Dental Crowns in Chicago, IL

What dental crown treatment at AAP Dental includes

Dental crown treatment at AAP Dental includes an examination with digital X-rays, preparation of the tooth under local anesthetic, an impression or digital scan, a temporary crown, and cementation of the final crown at a second visit about 2 weeks later.

• Examination: the dentist confirms that the root and surrounding bone are healthy, because a crown on a tooth with an untreated infection fails.
• Preparation: 1 to 2 millimeters of tooth structure is reduced on all sides so the crown fits flush with the gum.
• Impression: a mold or digital scan records the prepared tooth and the bite for the dental lab.
• Temporary crown: a resin crown protects the tooth for the 1 to 2 weeks of lab work.
• Cementation: the final crown is checked for fit, color, and bite, then bonded with a permanent cement.

Dental crown types at AAP Dental

AAP Dental offers 3 types of dental crowns, and the dentist recommends the material by tooth position, because front teeth need the most natural translucency and molars need the most strength.

Dental crown cost and insurance

Dental crown cost depends on the material and the lab fee, and most traditional dental insurance plans cover a percentage of a crown when it restores a cracked, decayed, or root-canal-treated tooth, because the crown is classified as a major restorative service rather than cosmetic work.

AAP Dental accepts most traditional dental insurance plans and does not participate in HMO plans. Payment options include CareCredit financing, flexible payment plans, cash, checks, and credit cards. Ask the AAP Dental financial coordinator about the practice warranty terms and maintenance before treatment.

What dental crowns treat and the results to expect

Dental crowns treat cracked teeth, teeth with large fillings, worn teeth, discolored or misshapen teeth, and teeth after a root canal, and the result is a tooth that chews normally the day the crown is cemented and lasts 10 to 15 years.

• A crown holds a cracked tooth together, because the cap distributes bite force around the tooth instead of into the crack.
• A root-canal-treated back tooth is crowned because the tooth becomes brittle without its nerve and blood supply.
• A crown anchors a fixed bridge that replaces a missing tooth, as an alternative to a dental implant.
• A crown restores the shape of a tooth that is too damaged for a tooth-colored filling or a veneer.

Who dental crowns are for

Dental crowns suit adults and teenagers whose tooth has more filling than natural structure, a crack, severe wear, or a completed root canal. A crown does not suit a tooth with too little root or bone to support it, and in that case the dentist plans a tooth extraction and an implant or bridge are planned instead.

Patients who grind their teeth receive a zirconia crown and a night guard, because grinding shortens the life of any crown. A small chip or cosmetic concern on a sound tooth calls for dental bonding or a porcelain veneer, which remove less tooth structure.

Before, during, and after a dental crown

Dental Crowns at AAP Dental follows 3 stages: preparation, the visit itself, and aftercare, and each stage has its own instructions below.

Before the dental crown

The dentist removes decay, completes a root canal when the nerve is infected, and builds the tooth up with a core filling so the crown has a solid base.

During the dental crown visits

1. Visit 1, about 60 to 90 minutes: local anesthetic, tooth preparation, impression or scan, and temporary crown.
2. Lab fabrication: 1 to 2 weeks.
3. Visit 2, about 30 to 45 minutes: removal of the temporary, try-in, bite adjustment, and permanent cementation.

After the dental crown

Avoid sticky foods on the temporary crown and chew on the other side for 2 weeks. After cementation, sensitivity to cold fades within 1 to 2 weeks. Floss daily at the crown margin and keep cleanings every 6 months, because decay at the edge of a crown is the most common reason a crown is replaced.

Dental crowns vs fillings vs veneers

Dental crowns differ from fillings and veneers by coverage: a filling fills one cavity, a veneer covers the front surface, and a crown covers the whole tooth. Choose a filling for a small cavity, a veneer for a cosmetic change on a strong tooth, and a crown when more than half of the tooth is damaged.

Why choose AAP Dental for dental crowns in Chicago

• Dr. Myung Jin Nam, DDS completed a 3 year prosthodontics residency at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Prosthodontics is the specialty devoted to crowns, bridges, and dentures.
• Dr. Eduard Vernovsky, DDS, a Northwestern University Dental School graduate, provides root canals, bridges, and crowns within general dentistry, so the root canal and the crown are completed at one office.
• Digital X-rays confirm the root and bone are healthy before a crown is made.
• Payment plans and CareCredit are available, and Saturday hours run until 4:00 PM.

Dental crowns near Harlem Avenue: location and hours

AAP Dental Group sits at 5037 N Harlem Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, at the corner of Harlem Avenue and Foster Avenue on the Northwest Side. Patients come from Norwood Park, Harwood Heights, Norridge, Edison Park, and Park Ridge, all within 15 minutes of the office. Weekday hours at AAP Dental run Monday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Tuesday 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM, Wednesday 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and Thursday and Friday 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Saturday hours run 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and the office closes on Sunday.

Dental Crowns questions

Dental Crowns patients at AAP Dental Group ask these 5 questions most often, and each answer below is the dentist’s short reply.