A dental crown is a custom cap that covers the entire visible part of a tooth. When a tooth is too damaged for a filling but still has a healthy root, a crown rebuilds the strength and shape of the tooth and protects what's underneath. At Two Rivers Dental Group in Springfield, OR, Dr. Matthew Collins designs every crown to match your bite, your color, and your smile, using porcelain or zirconia depending on what works best for the tooth. Most crown cases are completed across two visits.
Every crown is made for your specific tooth, shaped to your bite and matched to your natural color so it stays invisible.
Modern porcelain and zirconia crowns are designed for decades of use. Daily care and routine cleanings extend that even further.
Most cases finish in two appointments, two to three weeks apart. You leave the first visit with a temporary crown that protects the tooth.
When You Need a Crown
Crowns are the right answer when a tooth is damaged enough that a filling won't hold up but the root underneath is still healthy. Here are the most common scenarios we see at our Springfield office.
An old filling that's cracked, leaked, or simply too large to repair again. A crown replaces it and rebuilds the tooth's full strength.
A crack from biting hard food, grinding, or trauma. A crown holds the tooth together and prevents the crack from spreading deeper.
Root canals weaken the tooth structure. A crown caps the treated tooth, protects what's left, and restores normal chewing function.
Years of grinding, acid wear, or aging can leave a tooth too short or too thin to function. A crown rebuilds it to its original size.
Materials We Use
Different teeth call for different materials. Dr. Collins recommends the best fit based on the tooth location, your bite, and how the crown will look in your smile.
All-ceramic crowns that mimic the translucency of natural enamel. The most lifelike option we offer, ideal for visible front teeth.
Ultra-durable ceramic crowns made from zirconium oxide. The strongest material we use, perfect for back teeth handling heavy chewing forces.
Layered crowns that combine zirconia strength with porcelain finish. A middle-ground option for teeth that need both durability and a great look.
The Two-Visit Workflow
Most crown cases are completed across two appointments scheduled two to three weeks apart. Here's exactly what happens at each visit.
Crowns vs Other Options
A crown isn't always the answer. Sometimes a simpler option is enough, and sometimes a more involved treatment is needed. Here's how Dr. Collins decides.
The damage covers more than half the tooth, the tooth is cracked, or there's not enough healthy structure left to hold a filling securely.
The damage is small and contained, the tooth is structurally sound, and a composite filling can fully repair the area.
The tooth is structurally damaged or weakened. A crown rebuilds the entire tooth, not just the front-facing surface.
The tooth is healthy and the goal is purely cosmetic. Veneers only cover the front of the tooth.
The root and surrounding bone are still healthy. A crown saves the natural tooth, which is almost always the preferred path.
The tooth is beyond saving. We then plan a replacement using a dental implant or bridge.
Two Rivers Dental Group serves crown patients across Springfield, Eugene, Coburg, Thurston, Pleasant Hill, Creswell, and the surrounding Lane County communities. Our office at 1717 Centennial Blvd, Suite #3 is open Tuesday through Friday. Call (541) 746-9552 to schedule a crown consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Schedule a crown consultation with Dr. Collins at our Springfield office. Honest answers, clear costs, and lasting results.
Call (541) 746-9552