Restorative Dentistry · Arlington, VA
A cracked, weakened, or heavily worn tooth doesn't have to mean losing it. At Fairlington Dental, we restore damaged teeth with beautiful, biocompatible crowns — all metal-free, mercury-free, and matched to your natural smile.
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Every crown we place is metal-free and mercury-free by default. We use all-ceramic and zirconia materials that match your natural tooth shade, resist staining over time, and avoid the biocompatibility concerns associated with older metal-based restorations.
At Fairlington Dental, we believe restorative work should support your whole-body health — not just fix the problem in front of us.
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Traditional metal crowns can contain alloys that raise biocompatibility concerns for some patients. We use only ceramic and zirconia restorations — materials that are safe, durable, and virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth.
When restoring or replacing older metal work, we use advanced isolation protocols to protect your health throughout the process.
Indications for Treatment
Crowns are one of the most common and versatile restorative options at Fairlington Dental. Here are the most frequent situations where a crown protects — and saves — a tooth.
A crown stabilizes the tooth before a small crack becomes a bigger problem. Early crowning can prevent the need for extraction down the road.
Root canal–treated teeth are more brittle and prone to fracture. A crown protects the tooth and restores full chewing strength for the long term.
When decay or wear is too extensive for a filling to hold, a crown rebuilds the full shape and bite function of the tooth — built to last 15+ years.
Dental implants are completed with a custom-milled crown designed to fit seamlessly alongside your natural teeth in color, shape, and bite.
Oversized fillings weaken the surrounding tooth structure. A crown distributes bite forces more evenly and eliminates the risk of the tooth splitting.
Severely discolored, misshapen, or undersized teeth can be fully rebuilt with a crown — a long-lasting alternative when veneers aren't the right fit.
What to Expect
Most crown cases are completed in two appointments with minimal discomfort. Here's exactly what happens.
We assess the tooth, take digital X-rays to check the root and surrounding bone, and confirm a crown is the right solution. We review all your options before moving forward.
We gently reshape the tooth to make room for the crown, take a precise digital impression, and place a temporary crown to protect the tooth while your permanent one is crafted.
Your impressions are sent to a dental lab that mills your custom ceramic or zirconia crown to exact specifications — matched to the shape, size, and color of your natural teeth.
At your second visit, we remove the temporary, check the fit and bite, and cement your permanent crown. Most patients leave in under an hour feeling completely comfortable.
Common Questions
The most common signs are a tooth that's cracked, broken, or severely decayed; a large filling that's failed or cracked the tooth around it; a tooth that's had a root canal; or a tooth that's been severely worn down from grinding. That said, you may have no symptoms at all — some of the most important reasons to crown a tooth show up on X-rays before pain starts. The only reliable way to know is a clinical exam. Schedule a consultation at Fairlington Dental and we'll give you a straight answer.
A filling repairs a small-to-medium portion of a tooth by filling in the decayed or damaged area. A crown covers the entire visible tooth above the gumline — it's a full cap that replaces the outer structure. Crowns are used when there isn't enough healthy tooth structure left to hold a filling reliably, or when the risk of the tooth fracturing is high. A filling takes minutes; a crown takes two appointments but lasts significantly longer and offers far more structural protection.
All-ceramic and zirconia crowns typically last 15–25 years with normal care — regular brushing, flossing, routine cleanings, and avoiding habits like chewing ice or grinding without a nightguard. The gum and bone health around the crown matters just as much as the crown itself, which is why we always factor in your overall oral health during treatment planning. We've seen well-maintained crowns last well over 20 years.
The preparation appointment is done under local anesthesia — you'll feel pressure but not pain. Some sensitivity in the days after tooth prep is normal and resolves quickly. At Fairlington Dental, we use precision digital impressions (no uncomfortable putty trays) and discuss sedation options with any patient who has dental anxiety. Most patients are genuinely surprised by how comfortable the process is. Call us at 703.671.1001 if you have concerns — we're happy to walk you through what to expect before your appointment.
A few things influence what a crown costs for a specific tooth. Material is one of the biggest factors — all-ceramic and zirconia crowns require more precise lab fabrication than older metal options. Which tooth matters too: back molars take more bite force and may need a more robust restoration than a front tooth. Additional treatment at the same visit plays a role — if a tooth needs a core build-up or a post placed before the crown can go on, that adds to the scope. And your insurance coverage varies widely; most plans cover a portion when the crown is medically necessary, but the exact benefit depends on your plan's annual maximum and how much of it you've used. We verify your benefits before your appointment and walk you through your out-of-pocket estimate before any work begins — no surprises. See our financial and payment options here.
Yes — we use only all-ceramic or zirconia crowns at Fairlington Dental. No metal, no mercury, no dark margins at the gumline as the restoration ages. Our material choices are guided by biocompatibility as well as aesthetics: we want your restoration to support your long-term health, not just patch the immediate problem. For patients who've had issues with metal sensitivities or who are concerned about amalgam, we're happy to discuss why we made this the default for our practice.
Complete Health Dentistry That Improves Lives. Advanced Pain Relief. Customized Solutions. Elegant, Biocompatible Restorations.
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