Madderra Dental Spa

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Dental Crowns in San Francisco

Restore the strength, function, and beauty of your smile with custom-crafted porcelain dental crowns at Madderra Dental Spa, San Francisco's premier boutique dental practice in the Castro District.

Book Your Consultation Call: (415) 552-9200
Custom dental crown fitting

Rebuilding Your Smile with Precision and Artistry

A dental crown is a cornerstone of restorative dentistry, a custom-fitted cap that completely encases a tooth to restore its integrity. At Madderra Dental Spa, we don't just see a crown as a repair; we see it as a renewal. It’s a chance to bring back the original strength, function, and natural beauty of a tooth compromised by decay, damage, or previous dental work. Our crowns act as a new, resilient outer surface, meticulously sculpted from the highest quality, biocompatible materials like E-max porcelain and monolithic zirconia to be indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

The need for a crown can arise from various situations: a large, failing filling that has weakened the tooth, a fracture from an unexpected accident, the brittleness following a root canal, or simply severe wear and tear over time. A crown provides comprehensive, 360-degree protection, a significant advantage over a filling which only patches a portion of the tooth. This full coverage is vital for preventing further breakdown, especially for molars that bear the brunt of chewing forces. Our primary focus is a dual one: to create a result that is aesthetically flawless and to provide a durable restoration that ensures decades of reliable function.

Our philosophy marries meticulous clinical technique with a deep appreciation for artistry. Dr. Madderra and Dr. Holmann take immense care in designing every aspect of the crown, from its precise shape and contours to its exact shade, ensuring a seamless blend with your unique smile. By leveraging state-of-the-art digital imaging and impression technology, we guarantee a precise fit down to the micron level. This precision is key—it not only protects the underlying tooth from bacteria but also promotes long-term gum health, delivering a comfortable, predictable, and exceptionally long-lasting outcome for our discerning San Francisco patients.

We understand that the decision to get a crown is a significant one. That's why we are committed to a co-diagnostic approach, where we educate you about your options and work with you to determine the best course of action. Your comfort, your goals, and your long-term oral health are the pillars of our practice.

Is a Dental Crown Right for You?

A crown is an ideal solution for a variety of dental concerns. We may recommend a crown for:

  • A tooth with a large cavity that is too extensive for a simple filling to support.
  • Severely worn down, cracked, or weakened teeth that are at high risk of fracturing.
  • Protecting and restoring a tooth to full function after root canal therapy.
  • Correcting significant cosmetic imperfections, such as misshapen or severely discolored teeth that don't respond to whitening.
  • Serving as the final, visible portion of a dental implant, creating a new tooth from root to crown.
  • Anchoring a dental bridge to replace missing teeth.

The Benefits of a Madderra Dental Spa Crown

Superior Strength & Durability

Our crowns are crafted from advanced porcelain and zirconia, materials renowned for their ability to withstand chewing forces, protecting your tooth from further damage for 15+ years.

Flawless, Natural Aesthetics

We meticulously match the crown's color, translucency, and shape to your natural teeth, ensuring a seamless, beautiful integration into your smile that is virtually undetectable.

Complete Functional Restoration

A crown restores your ability to chew, speak, and smile with full confidence by re-establishing the tooth's original form and function, and maintaining proper bite alignment.

The Madderra Approach: Experience, Artistry, and Technology

With over 34 years of dedicated service in San Francisco, Dr. Madderra's philosophy is rooted in a conservative, patient-first approach. We believe in preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible while utilizing state-of-the-art technology to achieve results that are both beautiful and built to last. Our extensive experience ensures that every crown procedure is planned and executed with the utmost precision and care, tailored to your unique anatomy and goals. This isn't just dentistry; it's craftsmanship.

Conservative Philosophy

We only recommend crowns when necessary, always prioritizing the preservation of your natural tooth structure. Our goal is the least invasive treatment for the most durable, long-term result.

Uncompromising Precision

Using digital scanners and advanced imaging, we ensure a perfect fit. This precision prevents future decay, protects gum health, and provides a comfortable, lasting restoration.

Masterful Artistry

Dr. Madderra and Dr. Holmann combine technical skill with an artistic eye to create crowns that are a perfect match in color, shape, and translucency, blending seamlessly with your smile.

Your Crown Procedure: A Journey in Two Visits

  1. 1

    Visit 1: Comprehensive Exam & Precision Preparation

    Your journey begins with a thorough examination, including digital x-rays and 3D imaging, to assess the tooth's health and bone structure. After ensuring you are completely comfortable with local anesthetic, we gently reshape the tooth to create the perfect foundation for the crown. This step is performed with meticulous care to preserve healthy tooth structure while ensuring a strong, stable base for the restoration. We then take a highly accurate 3D digital impression using our intraoral scanner—a comfortable, putty-free process.

  2. 2

    Temporary Restoration & Master Fabrication

    While your permanent crown is being fabricated by our master ceramist, we will place a custom-made, aesthetically pleasing temporary crown. This protects your tooth and allows you to function normally and smile confidently. Your digital impression is sent to a world-class dental laboratory where a master technician uses the latest CAD/CAM technology and artistic skill to fabricate your crown, layering porcelain or milling zirconia to create a restoration that has the ideal shape, fit, and color for your smile.

  3. 3

    Visit 2: Final Crown Bonding & Perfecting the Fit

    At your second visit, we remove the temporary crown and try in your final, custom-crafted porcelain crown. We meticulously check the fit, bite, and aesthetics, making any necessary micro-adjustments. We take an x-ray to confirm the perfect seal at the margins. Once you are thrilled with the look and feel, we permanently bond the crown into place using a high-strength dental cement, polishing it to a natural luster and revealing your beautifully restored tooth.

Recovery & Aftercare: Protecting Your Investment

Following your final crown placement, it's normal to experience some minor sensitivity to hot and cold for a few days as the tooth and gums adjust. This is temporary and will gradually subside. Your bite may feel slightly different initially, but you will quickly adapt. We recommend avoiding extremely hard or sticky foods for the first 24 hours to allow the dental cement to fully cure and create the strongest possible bond.

Long-term care for your crown is straightforward and essential for its longevity. It simply requires the same excellent oral hygiene we recommend for all your teeth: diligent brushing twice daily and flossing once a day. Pay special attention to the gumline around the crown to keep it healthy and free of plaque. While your crown is incredibly strong, it's wise to avoid habits like chewing ice, biting fingernails, or using your teeth as tools to ensure it lasts for decades to come.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Crowns

With proper care and maintenance, a high-quality porcelain crown from Madderra Dental Spa can last between 15 to 20 years, and sometimes even longer. Factors that influence longevity include your oral hygiene habits (brushing, flossing), avoiding chewing on hard objects like ice or pens, and attending regular dental check-ups and cleanings twice a year.
No, the process is not painful. We prioritize your comfort at every step. A local anesthetic is used to completely numb the tooth and surrounding area before any preparation begins. For anxious patients, we offer sedation options. Our spa-like amenities, including noise-canceling headphones and warm blankets, and our team's gentle approach ensure a comfortable and stress-free experience.
Both are excellent, metal-free options. Porcelain crowns are renowned for their superior aesthetics, perfectly mimicking the translucency and color of natural teeth, making them ideal for front teeth. Zirconia crowns offer exceptional strength and durability, making them a fantastic choice for molars that endure heavy chewing forces. We will help you choose the material best suited for your specific clinical needs and aesthetic goals.
Yes, we take great care in crafting our temporary crowns to be as comfortable and natural-looking as possible. While not as durable or perfectly matched as your final restoration, your temporary will allow you to eat, speak, and smile confidently while your permanent crown is being meticulously fabricated by our master ceramists. We ensure it fits well to protect the underlying tooth.
Caring for a crown is just like caring for your natural teeth. It requires diligent daily brushing (twice a day for two minutes) and flossing, paying special attention to the area where the crown meets the gum line to prevent plaque buildup. Regular professional cleanings and exams at our San Francisco office are also essential to ensure the health of the underlying tooth and surrounding gums.
While the crown itself is made of impervious ceramic and cannot decay, the underlying natural tooth structure where it meets the crown is still susceptible to cavities. This is why excellent oral hygiene and regular dental visits are crucial to prevent decay from forming at the margins (edges) of your crown, ensuring its long-term success.
This is a rare occurrence, but if it happens, please contact our office immediately. Keep the crown in a safe place and do not attempt to re-glue it yourself. We will schedule a prompt appointment to assess the tooth and re-cement the crown properly. This is often a simple fix, but it's important to address it quickly to protect the underlying tooth.
The entire process typically takes two visits spaced about two to three weeks apart. The first visit involves preparing the tooth, taking digital impressions, and placing a temporary crown; this appointment usually lasts about 90 minutes. The second visit is shorter, where we remove the temporary and permanently bond your beautiful, custom-made crown to your tooth.

Related Services

Dental Bridges

Replace one or more missing teeth using a series of connected crowns.

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Porcelain Veneers

Enhance the appearance of your front teeth with custom-designed porcelain shells.

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Root Canal Therapy

Save an infected or damaged tooth by treating the inner pulp and preparing it for a crown.

Learn More →

Ready to Restore Your Smile's Health and Beauty?

Don't let a damaged tooth compromise your confidence or your oral health. Contact Madderra Dental Spa in San Francisco today to schedule your consultation for a custom porcelain crown. Experience the difference that 34+ years of expertise and a spa-like environment can make. Call us at (415) 552-9200 or book online.