Restoring Strength and Beauty with Dental Crowns
At Trail Ridge Dental, we understand that a damaged tooth can affect everything from your ability to chew comfortably to your confidence when you smile. When a tooth is compromised by decay, fracture, or wear, it requires a solution that offers both durability and aesthetic appeal. Whether you visit our office in Longmont or our location in Johnstown, Dr. Sean Visger and our dedicated team are committed to providing advanced restorative care that fits your busy lifestyle.
Gone are the days when repairing a tooth meant weeks of waiting and uncomfortable temporary restorations. We are proud to offer Same Day CEREC® dental crowns, a state-of-the-art solution that allows us to design, create, and place your permanent restoration in a single appointment. Our goal is to be the “dentist’s office near you” that combines clinical excellence with the convenience you deserve, helping you maintain optimal oral health without disrupting your schedule.
If you suspect you have a damaged tooth, please call our Johnstown dental office at 970-593-1010 or our Longmont office at 303-772-6960.
What is a Dental Crown?
What is a Dental Crown?A dental crown is a custom-fitted cap that covers the entire visible portion of a tooth above the gum line. It is designed to restore the tooth’s original shape, size, strength, and appearance. Unlike tooth-colored fillings, which fill a small space within the tooth, a crown encases the tooth completely, holding the structure together and protecting it from further damage.
Crowns are an essential part of general dentistry because they allow us to save natural teeth that might otherwise need to be extracted. Preserving your natural dentition is always our priority, as tooth loss can lead to bone deterioration and shifting of the surrounding teeth. By placing a crown, we can extend the life of your tooth for many years, preventing the need for more complex replacements like bridges or implants down the road.
The Same Day CEREC® Difference
One of the distinct advantages of choosing Trail Ridge Dental is our investment in CEREC® technology. CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. This advanced system revolutionizes the way we deliver restorative care.
In a traditional setting, getting a crown requires at least two visits. The first visit involves preparing the tooth, taking messy physical impressions with a putty-like material, and placing a temporary crown. You then have to wait weeks for an off-site laboratory to fabricate the final piece. Temporary crowns can often fall off or cause sensitivity, making the waiting period uncomfortable.
With our Same Day CEREC® crowns, the entire process is completed in one visit. We use a digital intraoral scanner to capture a precise 3D image of your mouth—no goop required. Dr. Visger then designs your custom crown on a computer monitor, ensuring a perfect fit and bite. Our in-house milling unit carves the restoration from a high-quality block of ceramic in just a few minutes. We bond it permanently to your tooth, and you leave our office with a fully restored smile.
When is a Crown Necessary?
When is a Crown Necessary?Crowns are versatile restorations used to treat a variety of dental issues. During your examination, we will evaluate the condition of your teeth and gums to determine if a crown is the right solution for you. Common scenarios where a crown is recommended include:
Severe Tooth Decay
When a cavity is too large for a standard filling, the remaining tooth structure may be too weak to support the filling material. A crown provides the necessary reinforcement to prevent the tooth from crumbling.
After Root Canal Therapy
When infection reaches the inner pulp of the tooth, endodontics (root canal therapy) is performed to remove the infection and save the tooth. However, this procedure removes the blood supply, leaving the tooth brittle and prone to fracture. Placing a crown after a root canal is standard practice to protect the tooth from breaking under the pressure of biting.
Cracked or Broken Teeth
Trauma or biting down on hard foods can cause teeth to crack. A crown holds the fractured pieces together, relieving pain and sensitivity while restoring function.
Cosmetic Enhancements
In addition to their restorative benefits, crowns are a valuable tool in cosmetic dentistry. They can be used to cover teeth that are severely discolored, misshapen, or resistant to whitening treatments. Our ceramic crowns are color-matched to blend seamlessly with your natural smile.
If you are experiencing a toothache or have a broken tooth, do not delay care. Call us at 970-593-1010 (Johnstown) or 303-772-6960 (Longmont) immediately.
Crowns vs. Other Restorative Options 
It is important to understand how crowns compare to other restorative solutions. While a crown saves an existing tooth, other procedures are designed to replace missing teeth.
- Dental Bridges: A bridge is used to bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. It consists of two crowns placed on the adjacent healthy teeth (abutments) with a false tooth (pontic) in between. While effective, bridges require the alteration of healthy teeth.
- Dental Implants: A dental implant is a titanium post surgically placed into the jaw bone to replace a missing tooth root. A crown is then attached to the implant. Implants are often considered the gold standard for replacement because they do not affect neighboring teeth, but they involve a surgical component.
Our team will guide you through these options, but preserving your natural tooth with a crown is often the most conservative and cost-effective approach when the root is still healthy.
Oral Health and Hygiene
Maintaining your crown is just as important as maintaining your natural teeth. While the ceramic material cannot decay, the underlying tooth structure is still susceptible to disease at the gum line. Good oral hygiene is essential to extend the life of your restoration.
We recommend brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily to remove plaque from around the base of the crown. Regular teeth cleaning appointments at Trail Ridge Dental allow us to inspect the integrity of the crown and ensure your gums remain healthy. Neglecting hygiene can lead to gum disease or new decay under the crown, which could result in the need for replacement or even extraction.
Financial Options and Membership
We believe that high-quality healthcare should be accessible to everyone in our community. Navigating dental insurance can be complex, but our administrative team is here to help you understand your coverage. Dental insurance plans often categorize crowns as major restorative procedures, and we will work to maximize your benefits.
For patients without insurance, we offer the Trail Ridge Membership Club. This program is designed to make dental services more affordable by offering covered preventive care and discounts on restorative treatments like crowns. We have plans for adults, children, and patients completing periodontal therapy, ensuring that your family’s needs are met without the stress of unexpected costs.
To learn more about our membership options or to schedule your visit, call 970-593-1010 or 303-772-6960.
Pediatric and Family Considerations 
Trail Ridge Dental is proud to serve patients of all ages. While crowns are most commonly associated with adult restorative care, they play a role in pediatric dentistry as well. Stainless steel or ceramic crowns may be used to save a baby tooth that has been severely damaged by decay. Saving these primary teeth is crucial as they hold the space for permanent teeth and aid in speech development and nutrition.
We strive to be the “dentists near you” that your entire family can trust. By providing comprehensive education and preventive care, we help our younger patients establish a lifetime of healthy habits, potentially reducing the need for extensive restorative work in adulthood.
Frequently Asked Questions
With proper care, a CEREC® crown can last just as long as a traditional lab-fabricated crown, typically between 10 and 15 years, and often longer. The lifespan depends heavily on your habits. Avoiding chewing on ice, hard candies, or using your teeth as tools will help prevent fractures. Regular checkups allow us to monitor the condition of the crown and address any issues early.
We prioritize patient comfort above all else. Before the procedure begins, we use local anesthesia to ensure the tooth and surrounding area are completely numb. Most patients feel no pain during the preparation or placement. After the anesthesia wears off, you might experience some mild sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, but this usually subsides within a few days.
Yes, crowns can sometimes be used for “instant orthodontics.” By reshaping the tooth and placing a crown, we can alter its appearance to make it look straighter and more aligned with the rest of your smile. However, for significant misalignment, we may recommend Sure Smile clear aligners to correct the position of the teeth without removing healthy enamel.
If an old crown falls off or breaks, this is considered a dental emergency. It is important to contact us immediately to protect the underlying tooth from damage and sensitivity. Because we offer same-day technology, we can often replace the restoration in a single visit, getting you out of pain and back to your routine quickly.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Your smile is one of your most valuable assets. Do not let damaged or decayed teeth compromise your health or confidence. At Trail Ridge Dental, Dr. Sean Visger and our team are ready to restore your smile with the speed and precision of Same Day CEREC® technology.
If you’re ready to restore your tooth and improve your oral health, call our Colorado dentist near you in Johnstown at 970-593-1010 or Longmont at 303-772-6960 today.