Aesthetic Dental Designs provides dental crowns to patients throughout Orange County from our office in Laguna Niguel. Patients from Irvine, Newport Beach, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, and communities across the county travel to our South Orange County location for crown treatment performed by Dr. Todd Snyder, an AACD Accredited Fellow—a credential held by fewer than 100 dentists worldwide.
Dental crowns serve both restorative and cosmetic purposes. While any dentist can place a crown that functions adequately, creating a crown that looks natural—matching the color, translucency, and subtle characteristics of surrounding teeth—requires the expertise that comes with advanced cosmetic training.
All dental crown consultations and treatments are performed at our Laguna Niguel office at 25500 Rancho Niguel Rd #230, accessible via Interstate 5 and the 73 Toll Road from throughout Orange County.
What Are Dental Crowns?
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that completely covers a damaged, weakened, or aesthetically compromised tooth. The crown encases the entire visible portion of the tooth above the gum line, restoring its shape, size, strength, and appearance.
Crowns are fabricated in a dental laboratory based on impressions of your prepared tooth. Once cemented in place, the crown becomes the new outer surface of the tooth, protecting the underlying structure and providing a natural appearance.
Modern crowns are typically made from ceramic or porcelain materials that closely mimic natural tooth enamel. Unlike older metal-based crowns, all-ceramic crowns offer exceptional aesthetics with translucency and light reflection that matches surrounding teeth.
When Are Dental Crowns Needed?
Dental crowns address a variety of clinical situations:
| Indication | How Crowns Help |
|---|---|
| Extensive Decay | When a cavity is too large for a filling to restore effectively, a crown provides full coverage and structural support |
| Cracked or Fractured Teeth | Crowns hold cracked teeth together, preventing further damage and potential tooth loss |
| Root Canal Treatment | Teeth that have undergone root canal therapy are more brittle and typically require crowns for protection |
| Large Existing Fillings | When old fillings fail or the remaining tooth structure is insufficient, crowns provide stronger, longer-lasting restoration |
| Worn Teeth | Teeth worn down by grinding (bruxism) or acid erosion can be rebuilt to proper form and function |
| Cosmetic Enhancement | Severely discolored, misshapen, or poorly positioned teeth can be transformed with crowns when veneers are not appropriate |
| Implant Restoration | Crowns are attached to dental implants to replace missing teeth |
| Bridge Support | Crowns on adjacent teeth serve as anchors for dental bridges that replace missing teeth |
Types of Dental Crowns
Crown materials have evolved significantly, with modern options offering both durability and exceptional aesthetics:
All-Ceramic Crowns: Made entirely from ceramic material, these crowns offer the most natural appearance. Their translucency and light-reflecting properties closely mimic natural tooth enamel, making them ideal for visible front teeth. All-ceramic crowns contain no metal, eliminating the dark line that can appear at the gum line with older crown types.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM): These crowns have a metal substructure covered with porcelain. While strong, the metal base can create opacity that looks less natural than all-ceramic options, and a dark line may become visible if gums recede over time.
Zirconia Crowns: Made from zirconium oxide, these crowns combine exceptional strength with good aesthetics. They are particularly useful for back teeth where chewing forces are greatest, and newer formulations offer improved translucency for front teeth.
E-max (Lithium Disilicate): A type of glass-ceramic that offers excellent aesthetics and good strength. E-max crowns are popular for front teeth where appearance is paramount.
Dr. Snyder recommends crown materials based on the tooth location, functional demands, and aesthetic requirements of each individual case.
The Crown Process
Dental crown treatment typically requires two appointments:
First Appointment — Preparation:
- The tooth is numbed with local anesthesia
- Decay or old filling material is removed
- The tooth is shaped to create room for the crown
- Impressions are taken and sent to the dental laboratory
- A temporary crown is placed to protect the tooth
Laboratory Fabrication: The dental laboratory uses the impressions to create a custom crown matched to your tooth color and designed to fit precisely. This process typically takes 1-2 weeks.
Second Appointment — Placement:
- The temporary crown is removed
- The permanent crown is tried in and evaluated for fit, bite, and aesthetics
- Adjustments are made as needed
- The crown is permanently cemented in place
Why Cosmetic Expertise Matters for Crowns
Any dentist can place a crown that restores function. Creating a crown that is indistinguishable from natural teeth requires additional expertise.
Dr. Todd Snyder’s AACD Accredited Fellow credential reflects advanced training in aesthetic dentistry. This expertise influences every aspect of crown treatment:
Shade Matching: Natural teeth are not a single color—they have variations in hue, value, and chroma from the gum line to the biting edge. Accurate shade selection requires understanding these subtleties and communicating them effectively to the laboratory.
Characterization: Natural teeth have individual characteristics—subtle color variations, translucent areas, and surface texture. Exceptional crowns replicate these details rather than appearing uniformly perfect.
Proportions: Crown shape must complement facial features and harmonize with adjacent teeth. This requires artistic judgment developed through advanced cosmetic training.
Laboratory Communication: The final crown quality depends heavily on collaboration between dentist and ceramist. Dr. Snyder works with skilled laboratory technicians and provides detailed specifications to ensure optimal results.
For patients replacing visible front teeth, this cosmetic expertise makes the difference between a crown that “looks like a crown” and one that is genuinely undetectable.
Crown Longevity and Care
With proper care, dental crowns typically last 10-15 years or longer. Factors affecting crown longevity include:
Oral Hygiene: While the crown itself cannot decay, the underlying tooth structure remains vulnerable. Thorough brushing and flossing, particularly at the crown margin where it meets the tooth, is essential.
Bite Forces: Patients who grind or clench their teeth may benefit from a night guard to protect crowns from excessive force.
Diet: Avoiding extremely hard foods (ice, hard candy) and habits like chewing on pens can extend crown life.
Regular Dental Visits: Professional cleanings and examinations allow early detection of any issues with crowns or the teeth beneath them.
Crowns vs. Other Restorations
Understanding when crowns are appropriate versus other options:
Crowns vs. Veneers: Veneers cover only the front surface of teeth and require less tooth reduction. Crowns provide full coverage and are necessary when structural support is needed. For purely cosmetic concerns on healthy teeth, veneers may be preferred.
Crowns vs. Fillings: Fillings restore small to moderate areas of decay. When more than half the tooth structure is compromised, crowns provide better long-term protection.
Crowns vs. Bonding: Bonding is conservative and reversible but less durable. Crowns are more permanent and appropriate for significant damage or when longevity is the priority.
Serving Crown Patients Across Orange County
Orange County encompasses 34 cities and over 3 million residents across 948 square miles. Our Laguna Niguel office is centrally positioned within South Orange County, with convenient access for patients throughout the region.
| Region | Communities Served | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| South Orange County | Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Woods, San Clemente, Rancho Santa Margarita | 10–25 minutes |
| Central Orange County | Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Orange, Santa Ana, Lake Forest | 20–35 minutes |
| North Orange County | Anaheim, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Yorba Linda, Brea, Buena Park, Garden Grove | 35–50 minutes |
While dental crowns are available at many practices, patients seeking crowns for visible teeth—particularly those replacing existing crowns that looked unnatural—benefit from the cosmetic expertise of an AACD Accredited Fellow.
Schedule a Crown Consultation
Patients needing dental crowns are invited to schedule a consultation at our Laguna Niguel office. During this appointment, Dr. Snyder evaluates your tooth, discusses material options, and explains the treatment process. Contact the office at (949) 990-3752 or visit our Dental Crowns page for additional information.
Practice Information and Location
Aesthetic Dental Designs is a cosmetic dental practice located in Laguna Niguel, California, serving patients from throughout Orange County since 2001. The practice is led by Dr. Todd Snyder, who completed his dental education at UCLA School of Dentistry in 1994 and has since focused his career on cosmetic and restorative dentistry.
Dr. Snyder’s AACD Accredited Fellow credential positions Aesthetic Dental Designs among a small number of practices in Southern California offering this level of verified cosmetic expertise. Patients seeking dental crowns, smile makeovers, and comprehensive aesthetic treatment travel from across Orange County and beyond.
Aesthetic Dental Designs
25500 Rancho Niguel Rd #230
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949) 990-3752
Office hours: Monday through Wednesday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Thursday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
For comprehensive information about the practice, credentials, and services, visit the main Cosmetic Dentist in Laguna Niguel page. Additional details about specific procedures are available on individual service pages including Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Implants, and Teeth Whitening.
