Sometimes a tooth becomes too decayed or damaged to repair by simply using a filling. However, it may not be necessary (or desirable) to extract the tooth entirely. In such cases, our expert cosmetic dentists in Westwood can repair your smile to give you natural- and healthy-looking teeth once again through the application of a crown.
What are Crowns?

Crowns (sometimes called caps) are artificial covers handcrafted to fully encase the visible portion of a damaged tooth. Crowns are used because they are a quicker and easier way to restore a damaged tooth to its natural size, shape, and color without extracting it or replacing it with an artificial appliance. They can also be used to strengthen a weak tooth that is already broken or is likely to break.
While there are several types of materials used for crowns, the most common we use here at our Westwood dentist office are crafted from porcelain. This porcelain is durable—lasts for years at a time—and mimics the natural enamel surface of a tooth in both luster and color shading. These porcelain crowns are often the best option for visible teeth—though they are slightly more expensive than crowns manufactured from other materials like stainless steel, resin, or ceramic.
It’s important to keep in mind that crowns are generally considered a temporary measure even though they may last for many years. The crown will either eventually need to be replaced or a more permanent solution (such as extraction and replacement of the damaged tooth) may be required.
Even so-called “permanent crowns” made in offsite laboratories will not likely last forever—though they may stay in place for much longer than those manufactured in the dentist’s office.
How are Crowns Placed
The first step is to prep the tooth on which the crown will be placed. If the tooth is not badly damaged and is roughly the “normal” shape and size, it will need to be filed down in order to create space for the artificial crown material. If a crown is placed on a normal tooth that’s not prepped in such a way, it could completely misalign your bite.
If the tooth is damaged or decayed, a filling material will need to be used in order to build the tooth up to the point where a crown can be placed.
Next, an impression will be made (either with dental putty or digitally). That scan will give whoever manufactures the crown (your dentist or the laboratory crafting a permanent crown) an accurate model to work from.
Next, the crown will be cemented in place.
If crafting a crown outside the office is necessary, our Westwood dentists will often place a temporary crown made of acrylic on the tooth until the permanent crown is available.
How Much Do Crowns Cost?
The average cost of a crown is between $800 and $3,000 per tooth (depending on the amount of prep work involved and the material used). And while that may seem like a lot of money for one tooth, what price tag can you put on a healthy mouth or smile for that matter?
Crowns are not generally offered as a solution when a simple filling will do. Comparatively, extraction and crafting a replacement dental appliance often costs much more than installation of a permanent crown.
Don’t let financial fears keep you from repairing your smile or fixing painful broken teeth. Westwood Village Smiles offers a wide array of payment options including CareCredit Financing so you can get necessary dental work done without worrying about the cost.
Do You Need a Crown?
Crowns are only one option available to you at our Westwood dentist office. There may be other less-invasive, and more affordable options to help repair your smile. Call us at (310) 254-9355 or schedule an appointment online for an obligation-free consultation to see if a crown is the best option for you.

For over a decade Westwood Village Smiles has been a trusted provider of top-notch dental care in Los Angeles California our dedicated team of dental professionals is committed to ensuring the oral health and Radiance Smiles of our valued patients with a strong emphasis on excellence and patient satisfaction among the exceptional treatments we offer is the use of crowns crowns are a versatile and highly effective solution for a variety of dental issues including damaged or decayed teeth cosmetic imperfections or the need for protection after a root canal our skilled dentists utilize
Cutting Edge technology and materials to create custom made crowns that seamlessly match the shape size and color of your natural teeth resulting in a Flawless and natural looking outcome we understand that every patient is unique which is why we take the time to listen to your concerns and tailor our treatments to meet your specific needs our friendly and knowledgeable staff is here to guide you through the treatment process addressing any questions or concerns you may have and ensuring your comfort every step of the way to experience exceptional dental care and enjoy the benefits of crowns contact Westwood Village Smiles at 310 254 9355 to schedule an appointment today let us help you achieve a healthy and beautiful smile that you can truly be proud of

Welcome to Westwood Village Smiles where we take pride in offering state-of-the-art care for dental crowns serving the Los Angeles California area since 1946 our general dentistry practice has been dedicated to providing outstanding Dental Care to generations of happy patients when it comes to dental crowns we utilize the latest this technology to ensure precise and comfortable treatment our Advanced Equipment allows us to create digital impressions of your teeth eliminating the need for messy traditional molds this not only improves accuracy
but also enhances your overall experience in addition we understand that visiting the dentist can be intimidating that’s why we’ve created a cozy and comfortable environment ensuring that you feel relaxed during during your dental crown procedure we strive to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all our patients but don’t just take our word for it our satisfied patients have raved about their experiences on Yelp and Google we take great pride in the positive feedback we receive as it reflects our commitment to providing exceptional dental care so if you’re in need of dental crowns trust Westwood Village Smiles for technologically Advanced Care in a comfortable setting contact us today to schedule your appointment