COSMETIC Crowns

Cosmetic Crowns are crowns that are done mostly for cosmetic purposes and not necessarily medically necessary due to decay.  Many people choose cosmetic crowns to renew their smile and gain confidence. 

Cosmetic crowns take into account aesthetics of the smile and often deal with the front teeth.  For this reason your cosmetic dentist at St. Lucie Center for Cosmetic Dentistry will often take some additional steps to ensure your case comes out looking great. 

First step is to come in for xrays and exam to determine the specifics of your case.  We will provide you with a customized clinical plan to create your new smile and also determine cost.  Once a patient is ready to move forward we take a scan of the teeth and get a Wax Up Made of your teeth.  This is a visual piece of art that our dentist in Port St. Lucie will use to communicate to the patient the intended size, shape, and location of the teeth.  Sometimes at this stage edits will be made prior to temporaries being designed.  “Temporaries” or temporary crowns are not as beautiful as the final crowns, but will give the patient the opportunity to wear the design agreed upon at the wax up stage.  Some changes can be made at this stage but it can add additional time and steps.  Once the patient is happy with the crown design their final set of custom cosmetic crowns are fabricated and the final visit these crowns are permanently placed for a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing smile. 

Patients are welcome to bring in photos of teeth they like and details of their ideal smile. Your dentist will tell you what is and is not possible and healthy for you based on your bite, anatomy, and various other factors.  The long term function of your teeth is most important and cosmetic cases do have limitations to ensure that you and your teeth will be healthy for a long time! 

Do cosmetic crowns need to be replaced?

It is possible that your crowns may need to be replace or updated over time.  You can typically expect at least 10 years if you are taking great care of your teeth at home by brushing and flossing and also coming for regular dental checks ups at least 2x a year. Many patients have crowns for many more years.  One common thing that happens over time is that the top of crown will recede from the gums that creates a less aesthetically pleasing look.

What is the difference between crowns and veneers? 

They are very similar in outcome.  They both change the appearance of your teeth for a cosmetic purpose.  Crowns are much stronger and break less, however, more of your natural tooth will need to be cut down to place them. Veneers require less cutting of the natural tooth but they do not cover the back of the tooth fully so they are much more likely to pop off and need to be reglued.  Veneers tend not be be as good for people who grind or clenth their teeth. 

Cosmetic Crowns are made of aesthetic material to look translucent and beautiful just like natural teeth and often people think of this when they mention veneers.  If you have crowns done for medical purposes in the front of your mouth, they are older crowns, or not done by a cosmetic dentist you may think your crowns look thick, bulky, and not natural. 

What is teeth bonding?

Teeth bonding is when you add material to the teeth. Although dental bonding material is somewhat stain-resistant, it doesn't resist stains as well as porcelain crowns or fillings. A main disadvantage of bonding is that typically doesn't last as long as crowns or veneers.  It will usually start chipping or becoming discolored within a relative short period of time if doing it on many teeth.