Dr. Andrey Doroshenko and Dr. Ed Lazer use porcelain dental crowns to strengthen and protect teeth with a natural-looking result. We offer the convenience of same-day dental crowns with innovative CEREC technology in our office. While we often choose porcelain for its lifelike look, we also consider other materials, like zirconia, for patients who grind their teeth because it offers incredible strength. During your consultation, we’ll discuss which material is best for your specific tooth and bite.
If you’re searching for dental crowns in Baltimore, you want a solution that looks natural and fits comfortably. That’s exactly what we provide for our patients right here in our Owings Mills office.
Dental Crowns Restore Health, Beauty, and Function
Crowns are restorative dental treatments that fix cracked, broken, or crooked teeth. They also protect teeth after a root canal procedure.
Because a dental crown fits over the tooth like a thimble, it is also known as a tooth cap. This common dental restoration can improve the tooth’s appearance and give it strength to protect it from future damage.
You may need a dental crown for the following situations:
- Protect a weak tooth (for instance, from decay) from breaking or to hold a cracked tooth together.
- Restore a broken or severely worn-down tooth. This includes teeth that have large, failing fillings where there isn’t enough healthy tooth structure left to support a new filling.
- Cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth left.
- Hold a dental bridge in place.
- Cover misshapen or severely stained teeth.
- Restore a dental implant.
A dentist can choose from many materials for creating a dental crown. Baltimore’s cosmetic dentist, Dr. Lazer, chooses porcelain dental crowns because they offer natural-looking results and long-term strength.
No one will notice you are wearing a crown because they blend seamlessly with your smile. Dr. Lazer or Doroshenko will color-match your dental crown or crowns to your natural teeth to help you reach your cosmetic goals.
Single-visit Dental Crowns: Our Three-Step Promise for Your Perfect Crown
At Dr. Lazer and Dr. Doroshenko’s office, we use advanced CEREC technology to create same-day crowns, inlays, and onlays. But for us, technology is just the starting point. We follow a special three-step process we call the Tri-Digital Smile Protocol. It’s our way of making sure your new crown fits your face, your bite, and your smile perfectly.
Step 1: We Design It Around Your Smile
We don’t just look at your tooth. We start by looking at you. Using digital photos and software, we design your crown to match your smile’s natural shape and how your lips move when you laugh. The goal is to create a crown that looks like it belongs there.
Step 2: We Engineer It for Your Bite
A crown needs to work perfectly when you chew. Our CEREC scanner takes a still picture and a quick video of your jaw moving. This lets us see exactly how your new crown will contact your other teeth when you bite, grind, or chew. This precision means fewer adjustments later and a crown that feels completely natural.
Step 3: We Craft It to Be Lifelike
This is where the artistry happens. We use special porcelain blocks that have color layers, just like a real tooth. After the crown is milled right here in our office, Dr. Lazer personally adds fine details and a natural polish. The result is a restoration that mimics the beauty and strength of your natural enamel.
This three-step protocol combines digital precision with a personal touch to deliver a crown that looks beautiful, fits comfortably, and stands the test of time. Since we design it based on your smile, the goal is for it to be indistinguishable from your real teeth. We pay special attention to translucency and surface texture.
Why Digital Impressions Mean a More Comfortable Crown
Remember the old way of getting a crown? That gooey tray material that sat in your mouth just long enough to make you wonder if you might gag? Most patients do. It was messy, uncomfortable, and for some people with sensitive gag reflexes, genuinely unpleasant.
Digital impressions have changed all that. Instead of trays and putty, we use a small handheld scanner that glides gently around your teeth to capture thousands of detailed images in seconds. You can breathe normally, swallow if you need to, and there’s no taste or mess to deal with. But comfort is only part of the story.
The real benefit is what the scan captures. The digital image is so precise that the crown we design from it fits more accurately against your tooth and along your gum line. That precision means less irritation, fewer adjustments, and a crown that simply feels like it belongs in your mouth.
How Does CEREC Work?
We now do many dental crown procedures using CEREC technology in our Baltimore dental office. Dr. Lazer will scan your compromised tooth to create a 3D digital image. We will use this 3D image to design your new crown.
Our in-office milling machine will make your custom crown while you wait. The benefits of getting CEREC restorations include:
- The crown is made of high-quality porcelain
- There is no need for a temporary crown
- There is no need for messy and gooey impression trays
- All steps in the crown process are completed in one office visit
- The crown fits more snugly with the use of digital 3D imaging
Our dental care team will evaluate your condition and choose the type of crown that’s right for you. For anterior teeth, or those in the smile zone, Dr. Lazer may prefer to partner with a dental laboratory.
Patient Review
Dental Crowns Case Study
A recent patient from Lutherville came to us with an old, discolored crown on a front tooth. Using our Tri-Digital Protocol, we designed and placed a new same-day crown that matched his surrounding teeth. He told us it made him feel confident smiling in photos again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have more questions about dental crowns? Read answers to these frequently asked questions:
How long does it take to adjust to a dental crown?
Most patients say that it takes about four days to adjust to a new dental crown. A little sensitivity right after getting a new crown is normal. The tooth has been through some work and needs time to settle down. That should fade within a week or two.
But ongoing sensitivity, especially to hot or cold, could mean the crown isn’t sitting quite right, or there’s a small gap where bacteria get in. If your crowned tooth starts hurting weeks or months after the procedure, that’s worth having us look at. Don’t just assume it will go away on its own.
How long should a crown last on a tooth?
A well-made crown typically lasts between ten and fifteen years, sometimes longer with good care. How long yours lasts depends a lot on your daily habits. Brushing and flossing around the crown keeps the gum tissue healthy and prevents decay at the edge where the crown meets your tooth.
Grinding your teeth at night can shorten a crown’s life, so let us know if you think that might be an issue. We will check the condition of your crown during your regular visits and let you know when it’s starting to show wear.
Will getting a crown hurt?
Not really. The procedure itself isn’t painful because we numb the area completely before starting. Most patients tell us the hardest part is just sitting still with their mouth open. After the numbness wears off, you might feel mild tenderness in your gums for a day or two. Over-the-counter pain medication usually takes care of it. If you feel sharp pain or anything that doesn’t seem right, call us.
Does the dentist numb you for a crown?
Yes. To place a permanent crown, the dentist must numb the surrounding area of the affected tooth. Then, they will cement the crown to your tooth. The dentist will already have designed and created the crown to fit perfectly over your tooth, so this procedure is fairly simple.
Can you eat normally with crowns?
Yes, you can eat normally with dental crowns. We advise you to avoid sticky foods for at least 24 hours after getting a dental crown. Then you can eat whatever you choose with caution, because it may take a few days to adjust to your new crown.
Why does my dental crown hurt at night?
If your dental crown hurts at night, you might be grinding your teeth in your sleep without knowing it. Over time, that grinding can put enough pressure on the crown to cause a small crack. Once a crown is cracked, you will often feel some sensitivity to hot or cold foods.
The best thing to do is give us a call. We can help you figure out what is going on and check whether your crown needs any attention.
From our precise Tri-Digital design to the artistry of a custom-milled crown, Dr. Lazer and Dr. Doroshenko provide Baltimore-area patients with restorations built to last. We combine technology with a personal touch to help you smile with confidence.
Schedule a Dental Exam and Consultation
Do you want to protect a worn or damaged tooth? For over 30 years, patients from Owings Mills, Pikesville, and across the Baltimore area have trusted Dr. Lazer and Dr. Doroshenko for durable, natural-looking crowns.
Learn more about dental crowns in our Baltimore-area dental office. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Doroshenko or Dr. Lazer.
We are currently welcoming new patients. Call (410) 697-6290 to schedule a free consultation or request a visit using our online form.