Dental Crowns in Arlington, VA

Dr. Philip Gentry, DDS, FAGD, has a special interest in crown and bridge and restorative dentistry, and has restored teeth in Arlington since 1989. He is a Washingtonian Magazine Top Dentist Hall of Fame honoree and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, where he teaches dental students and residents.

When a Crown Can Save Your Tooth

Dr. Gentry's goal is always to save your natural teeth. A crown covers and protects a weakened tooth so it can keep working for years. You may need a crown if a tooth is:

Broken or cracked
Patched with large or repeated fillings
Treated with a root canal
Worn down from grinding or clenching
Discolored or misshapen, for a cosmetic improvement

He always recommends the most conservative treatment that will solve the problem. If a filling is enough, he will tell you.

Digitally Designed Zirconia and Porcelain Crowns

No messy impressions: your teeth are scanned with a 3Shape TRIOS digital scanner.
Computer designed: each crown is designed in exocad software to match the shape, size, and shade of your natural teeth, and checked against your bite.
Preview your smile: for front teeth, Dr. Gentry can show you the computer design of your new smile before treatment begins.
Strong and natural-looking: zirconia provides strength, and porcelain gives a lifelike appearance.
Usually two visits.

See a Few Examples of Dr. Gentry's Crown Cases

Dr. Gentry places crowns every day. These are just a few of the many cases from his 37 years of practice in Arlington.

A Smile Makeover with Eight Front Teeth Crowns

This patient's upper and lower front teeth were worn, chipped, discolored, and spaced apart. Dr. Gentry restored eight teeth, #7 to #10 on top and #23 to #26 on the bottom, with E.max-fused-to-zirconia crowns. Before touching a tooth, he scanned the patient's teeth and designed his ideal smile on the computer. He then 3D printed that design and used it to make natural-looking temporary crowns, so the patient could try out his new smile, and show his wife, while Dr. Gentry and his master ceramist made the final crowns. Read the case.

Before and after a smile makeover with eight E.max-fused-to-zirconia crowns on the upper and lower front teeth, Arlington VA — Before and after

Computer design of eight front teeth crowns for a smile makeover — Designing his new smile

3D-printed models of the smile design, silicone matrices, and temporary crowns — 3D-printed models and temporaries

Smiling patient after his eight-crown smile makeover at Caring Dentists, Arlington VA — His new smile

Six Crowns Rebuild Broken-Down Front Teeth

This patient's six upper front teeth had been patched with fillings again and again over the years and had become broken down and uneven. Dr. Gentry digitally scanned her teeth, designed all six crowns together on a virtual articulator so they would match in shade, size, and shape, and showed her the design before treatment. She received six zirconia porcelain crowns in two visits. Read the full case.

Before dental crowns: broken-down, uneven, heavily filled upper front teeth — Before

exocad design of six front crowns on a virtual articulator — Computer design of the crowns

After six zirconia porcelain crowns on the upper front teeth, Arlington VA — After: six zirconia porcelain crowns

Four Front Teeth Crowns Before a Job Interview

A patient with worn, root canal treated upper front teeth had job interviews the next week. Dr. Gentry placed a core build-up on each tooth and restored all four with digitally designed E.max-fused-to-zirconia crowns in two visits, in time for his interviews. He landed a great new job. Read the full case.

Before and after E.max-fused-to-zirconia crowns on four upper front teeth, Arlington VA — Before and after

Close-up before and after of front teeth dental crowns, Arlington VA — Close-up, before and after

Every case photo on our website and blog shows Dr. Gentry's own patient, treated and photographed by Dr. Gentry. We never use stock photos of dental work.

"Dr. Gentry is known for his crown procedure… His advanced technology, attention to detail, and amazing staff made the experience so easy and stress-free."
Marielle M.

Common Questions About Dental Crowns

When do I need a crown instead of a filling?

When a tooth is broken, cracked, worn down, or has been filled so many times that little healthy tooth is left, a crown covers and protects what remains, so the tooth is less likely to break.

Do crowns look natural?

Yes. Zirconia and porcelain crowns are matched to the shade, shape, and size of your natural teeth, so they blend in with your smile.

How many visits does a crown take?

Usually two. At the first visit the tooth is prepared and digitally scanned; at the second, your custom crown is placed.

Does getting a crown hurt?

The tooth is numbed, so most patients feel little more than pressure. Afterward, mild sensitivity for a few days is common.

How long do crowns last?

With good home care and regular checkups, crowns can last many years. If you grind your teeth, a night guard helps protect them.

Thinking About a Crown?

Call us at 703-522-7733 and our team will get to know your needs and find the right appointment for you. We're two blocks from the Court House Metro in Arlington.

Learn more about Dr. Philip Gentry.