Dental Crowns in Woodstock, GA

Restore damaged teeth with durable, natural-looking dental crowns at Magnolia Smiles in Woodstock, GA. We ensure a careful fit and esthetics, often completing treatment in 1–2 visits with trusted local labs.

Restore Strength and Confidence to Your Smile

A cracked, decayed, or deeply filled tooth can be painful and weak – but a well-crafted dental crown can make it like new again. At Magnolia Smiles (Woodstock, GA), we provide crowns that look and feel natural, blending seamlessly with your smile. Our approach is patient-first: we explain why a crown is recommended, show you photos or X-rays of the tooth, and let you decide at your own pace. No hard sell – just honest guidance to restore your oral health.

Our crowns are made from strong, modern materials that mimic natural enamel. Whether it’s porcelain, ceramic, or a zirconia crown, we choose the material based on your needs – balancing strength with aesthetics. The result is a tooth restoration that not only protects what’s underneath but also looks great when you talk or laugh, so you can smile with confidence.

When Do You Need a Crown?

Crowns (sometimes called “caps”) are typically recommended in situations where a tooth is too compromised for a regular filling. During your exam, Dr. Finnegan will show you exactly why a crown is advised (if it is) – you’ll see any cracks or large cavities on the screen. We believe you should see what we see, so you can trust the treatment plan. Common reasons you might need a crown include:

Large Cavities or Old Fillings: When decay or an old filling covers more than about half the tooth’s width, a crown provides better long-term stability than another filling.
Cracked or Broken Tooth: If a tooth is cracked (for example, from biting something hard or trauma), a crown can hold it together and prevent the crack from worsening.
After Root Canal Therapy: Teeth that have had root canals often become more brittle. We usually protect them with crowns to prevent breakage.
Worn Teeth: Habitual grinding (bruxism) or acid erosion can wear teeth down. Crowns can rebuild the lost structure so you can chew properly again.
Cosmetic Improvement: In some cases, a crown can improve a tooth’s appearance – for instance, covering a misshapen or severely discolored tooth – but we consider this typically if other options like bonding or veneers aren’t suitable.

Our Crown Process

We know the idea of needing a crown can be intimidating, but we strive to make the experience easy to navigate. Most crown cases at Magnolia Smiles are completed in just one or two visits thanks to efficient planning and our collaboration with a high-quality local dental lab.

Our Crown Process

One great thing about crowns is that they don’t require any special care beyond good oral hygiene. You should continue to brush twice a day and floss daily – in fact, flossing around the crown is important to keep the gums healthy at the edges. With proper care, and regular checkups at Magnolia Smiles, crowns can last many years (often 10-15 years or more). We’ll check your crown at each visit to ensure it’s holding up well. Also, if you have a history of grinding your teeth at night, we might recommend a night guard to protect your crown and other teeth from excessive forces.

Here’s how it works:

Preparation Visit

After numbing the tooth completely, we gently remove any decay or old filling material and shape the tooth so the crown will fit over it. If the tooth is broken or has a big cavity, we will build it up with filling material first so it can support a crown. You won’t feel anything uncomfortable during this process – we take our time and check in with you frequently. Once the tooth is prepared, we take a digital impression (a 3D scan) or a precise mold of your tooth. We then place a temporary crown over the tooth to protect it. The temporary is not as strong as the final crown, but it will allow you to chew and smile normally for the short period until the permanent crown is ready. We’ll also match a shade for your crown, so it blends perfectly with your other teeth.

Custom Crafting

We send the scan or mold to one of our trusted dental lab partners here in Georgia. Experienced technicians craft your crown to our specifications – paying close attention to the shape, size, and color. This typically takes about one to two weeks. The use of a top-notch lab means your crown will have a careful fit and natural esthetics, meeting our high standards before it ever goes in your mouth.

Crown Placement

You’ll return for a quick follow-up appointment once your custom crown arrives. We remove the temporary and test the fit of the new crown. We ensure you and Dr. Finnegan both are happy with how it feels when you bite and how it looks. If any adjustments are needed (maybe a slight polish or tweak for a perfect bite), we do them chairside. Then we cement the crown in place with a strong, dental adhesive. That’s it – your tooth is restored! You can chew on it comfortably again, and it will look just like a natural tooth

Dental Crown FAQs

Will getting a crown hurt?

We make the procedure as comfortable as possible. The tooth and surrounding area will be fully numbed with local anesthesia, so you shouldn’t feel any pain while we work. You might feel some pressure or vibration from our instruments, but no sharp sensations. After the numbness wears off, it’s common to have mild soreness in the gums around the tooth for a day or two – this is usually from the temporary crown or the process of placing the new crown. Over-the-counter pain relievers or saltwater rinses are typically enough to manage any minor discomfort. If you ever feel more than mild soreness, call us right away. Most patients are pleasantly surprised at how easy getting a crown can be.

What materials are used for the crown?

Crowns can be made from several materials. We often use all-ceramic or porcelain crowns for front teeth because they look the most natural. For back teeth that need extra strength, we might use porcelain-fused-to-metal or zirconia crowns – these are very durable and still tooth-colored. In some cases (like for certain very small teeth or for patients who grind heavily), a full metal crown (gold or other alloy) might be recommended due to its unparalleled strength, but that’s less common these days for visible teeth. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of each type with you. Rest assured, all our materials are high-quality and chosen to be safe, strong, and beautiful.

How long does a crown last?

It varies, but with good care a crown can last a decade or much longer. National averages often say 10-15 years, but we’ve seen crowns last 20+ years when patients maintain excellent oral hygiene and avoid bad habits (like using teeth to open packages). Regular checkups help too – we can spot early wear or issues with a crown and address them. If your crown was done after a root canal, we especially keep an eye on it, since the underlying tooth can be more brittle. The good news is, our careful fit and use of quality labs help maximize the lifespan of your crown from the start.

Will the crown match my other teeth?

Yes. We take pride in making our crowns blend in naturally. We choose a shade that matches your adjacent teeth. For front teeth or visible areas, we may even do a custom shade analysis, sometimes having the lab technician evaluate to get it just right. If you plan to whiten your teeth, we’d actually do the whitening first (since crowns don’t bleach) and then match the new brighter shade. The goal is that once your crown is in place, it’s basically indistinguishable from a real tooth.

Repair That Feels Like a Return to Normal

A cracked or worn-down tooth doesn’t have to stay that way. We partner with trusted labs to create crowns that fit right, look natural, and last. Most cases finish in two visits or less.