Dental Crowns and Bridges in Coeur d'Alene & Sandpoint
Our teeth are incredibly strong and durable, but we subject them to tremendous wear and tear. Over time, it's common for them to weaken, break or become decayed when they're not cared for properly.
When this occurs, our dentists might recommend protecting the tooth with a dental crown. A crown covers an entire tooth like a cap to protect it from further damage. Since it provides a new surface to chew on, a crown is like a do-over for a damaged tooth.
When We Recommend Dental Crowns in Coeur d'Alene
Dental crowns are very versatile. They support and protect a compromised tooth, restoring comfortable chewing function and improving its appearance.
Here are a few common situations where we would recommend a dental crown
- Protect a tooth with extensive decay
- Restore a cracked or broken tooth
- Support a tooth after root canal treatment
- Restore function and appearance to a dental implant
- Support dental bridgework
- Improve the appearance of a discolored tooth
If you suspect you need a crown, the first step is to call North Idaho Dental Group to schedule an appointment at our Coeur d'Alene or Ponderay dental office. One of our experienced dentists will evaluate the tooth and provide recommendations, including alternative treatments.
No More Messy Impressions!
We understand that nobody likes to have messy impressions taken! Digital scanners eliminate the need to sit with a mouth full of goopy impression material and fight your gag reflex waiting for it to set.
3-D digital impressions also give our dentists an unprecedented degree of precision compared to traditional impressions. The result is a comfortable process and a crown that fits perfectly and blends seamlessly with surrounding teeth.
Steps for Getting a Dental Crown Near Sandpoint
Getting a dental crown involves the following steps:
- Our dentist numbs the tooth and carefully shapes it to prepare it for the crown.
- We take mess-free digital impressions and use specialized software to create a 3-D virtual model of the tooth.
- Our dentist uses the software to design your crown, and a local lab creates a durable, highly aesthetic all-porcelain crown.
Before you leave our office that day, we create a temporary crown to protect the tooth while the lab prepares the final version. When your final crown is ready in two to three weeks, you'll return to our office so we can check it for fit, polish it, and bond it securely to your tooth.
Dental Bridges Replace Missing Teeth
A fixed bridge is a great solution if you need to replace a tooth but don't want to wait or if you are not a good implant candidate. A bridge consists of an artificial tooth that sits in the open space and is held in place with crowns attached to adjacent teeth.
The process for getting a bridge is the same as a crown and takes two to three weeks.
If you care for your crown and bridge properly and visit us for exams and cleanings every six months, it can last ten years or longer.
Do You Have Broken or Missing Teeth?
We would love to help restore function and appearance with a crown or bridge at North Idaho Dental Group. Please call us to schedule an appointment so we can get started!
Our team is pleased to serve patients from Coeur d'Alene to Ponderay, including Sandpoint and all surrounding communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
A cracked tooth can be a real pain, no pun intended! Symptoms of cracked tooth syndrome are experiencing a "zing" or a "jolt" of pain when you chew.
Many teeth have visible crack lines, and some of them may never present any problems; in fact, many people have cracked teeth and don't even realize it. Unfortunately, some cracked teeth can become a big, painful problem, especially if they're not treated immediately.
How We Treat Cracked Tooth Syndrome
If your dentist recommends a crown due to a crack or fracture line, it's usually to prevent those cracks from spreading further down the tooth.
A crack starts superficially, but once it reaches the tooth's nerve chamber, we would recommend root canal treatment and a custom dental crown to protect it.
If the crack travels down the root of the tooth, we recommend removing it.
Do You Feel Sharp, Sudden Pain When Chewing?
If you avoid chewing on a tooth because of a sudden "zing" of pain, it is a good idea to come in as soon as possible. If caught soon enough, a cracked tooth can be a simple fix.
Our Coeur d'Alene and Ponderay, ID, dentists will evaluate the tooth for cracked tooth syndrome and plan prompt treatment if needed.
Meet Our Doctors:
Dr. Ben Gates
Benjamin Gates graduated from Whitman College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Northwestern University in Chicago in 1998. ...
Dr. Paige Landers
A Coeur d'Alene native, Dr. Paige Landers earned her Bachelor's degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience from Montana State University in 2004 and her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from ...
Dr. Miranda Weber
Dr. Chace Mickelson
As an Idaho native, Dr. Chace Mickelson graduated from Idaho State University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology. He later attended the University of Louisville School ...
Dr. Hatta Clark
Dr. Hatta Clark attended South Dakota State University College of Nursing, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and RN status, graduating in 2006. She subsequently obtained her ...
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iTero Digital Impressions
If you’ve ever had a dental impression taken, you probably remember how messy and uncomfortable the process was—sitting with a big tray of goopy paste in your mouth and waiting for it to set while fighting your gag reflex.
Thankfully, those days are over! At NIDG, we take state-of-the-art digital impressions as easy to use as passing an intraoral scanner over your teeth. No messy, gaggy paste involved, and results that are far more detailed than anything we could obtain with traditional impressions.
The scanner provides a 3-D digital image of your teeth that our dentists use with specialized software to virtually design dental crowns, bridges, veneers, and dentures and plan Invisalign treatment.