04 Sep Tooth Restorations: How Dental Crowns Can Help
There are many situations where dental crowns are the best and most appropriate solution.
What is a dental crown? Often referred to as a cap, the crown is fabricated from metal, gold, or porcelain. An impression is used as a guide for the dental lab with shading instructions provided by your dentist. The tooth is prepared by cutting it down, but leaving the base of the tooth intact providing a means to attach the crown.
A temporary cover is placed over the prepared tooth until the final restoration is made, usually about two weeks. On your seat day, the dentist will try in the crown. Minor adjustments can be made at that time so the fit and appearance are correct.
Dental crowns are suitable for:
- A cracked or broken tooth – when this occurs the tooth is saved when covered with a crown.
- Decayed tooth – When a tooth has previously been treated for a cavity, additional decay can result in damage that could break the tooth. Instead of trying to fill further decay, a crown can be placed salvaging the tooth.
- Anchoring a dental bridge – When tooth loss is inevitable, a bridge can be permanently fixed by placing crowns on the abutment teeth with a false tooth in between (called a pontic). The bridge restores the ability to eat, speak, and smile with confidence.
- Completing endodontic therapy – A root canal is needed when the nerve of a tooth is damaged or becomes infected. The tooth is opened, and the contents of the root canals are removed. When completed, the tooth access point must be sealed. A composite filling may be used, but very often a dental crown is needed to seal the access point.
- Covering a dental implant – Tooth loss can be restored to the closest thing to your biological tooth with a dental implant. The implant itself is made from titanium, and is placed in gum tissue where tooth loss has occurred. Bone in gum tissue fuses to the implant providing the strength and stability to support the restoration. After the implant area has healed, a dental crown that matches surrounding dentition is permanently placed to complete treatment.
To find out if you can benefit from a dental crown, call 210-616-0858 and reserve your appointment today.