When Dental Crowns Are the Right Choice for a Damaged Tooth?

If you are stuck with a damaged or weak tooth. Then your dentist must have recommended you to take the dental crown treatment. It can be intimidating to go for a treatment without knowing anything about it. Hence, let’s get into the intricate details of this tooth restoration treatment. So that you know if it is the right action to take for your damaged tooth?

What are Dental Crowns?

A dental crown is a treatment for tooth restoration, sometimes called a "cap." The name itself says that it is something shaped like a tooth, formulated and placed to fit over a decayed tooth. It can be performed on any damaged teeth to restore its strength, appearance, and function. 

Functions of Dental Crowns

A dental crown is made of materials such as porcelain, ceramic, metal, or even a combination of these. These are then cemented onto the tooth, becoming a hard and strong covering. Below are given some uses of crowns. 

• Stabilize a weak tooth: In case a tooth has decayed terribly or has become significantly weakened owing to a large-sized filling. Then the crown can keep it intact and prevent it from breaking.
• Repair a fractured tooth: A crown may be placed to restore the shape and function of a chipped or cracked tooth.
• Cover a discolored tooth: In case the tooth is overly stained or tinged, the crowns shall enhance the appearance of that tooth.
• Holding a dental bridge in place: Crowns are also used to hold a dental bridge in place. A dental bridge will fill in one or more missing teeth.
• Dental implant cover: A crown is placed on top of a dental implant to restore the appearance and function of a missing tooth.

Procedure for Dental Crowns

Let’s understand the complete dental crown treatment process step by step.

1. Testing and Preparation

The first step involves the complete examination of the tooth to be crowned. Under this approach, your dentist will examine the tooth to know the exact damage in the tooth. Then, by structural assessment, decide if it is the best option for you according to the condition of the tooth.

Once the decision to proceed with a crown is made, the tooth is then prepared. This means removing fine enamel covering from the surface of the tooth. The reason for this is to make the crown fit in without being bulky. The area is mostly anesthetized, so it is near to being painless.

2. Temporary Crown

The dentist is going to place a temporary crown on your tooth. It will act as protection until the permanent crown is ready. This temporary crown is made of some softer material and can be viewed as a protective covering. You should avoid biting hard substances since this would damage the temporary crown.

3. Crown Creation

In the preparation step, impressions of teeth are taken. The impression would be sent to a dental laboratory. Here lab technicians manufacture the custom-made crown for you. The crown would look just like your natural teeth in color and even in shape. This whole process normally takes weeks.

4. Cementation

It is when the permanent crown is ready that you will come back to the dentist's office. A temporary crown is removed then your dentist will check the fit and color of the permanent crown. If adjustments are necessary, he or she will make them before cementing your crown.

A dental cement is placed to bind the crown firmly in the prepared tooth. The dentist will check for accuracy in alignment and bite and finalize the cementation.

Which Dental Crown Material is best for you

The type of dental crown material you will choose depends on a combination of factors. It includes the location of the tooth, your sense of aesthetics, and your wallet. Some common options include:

• Porcelain or Ceramic Crowns: These crowns are very aesthetically pleasing—close in appearance to natural teeth—and thus are indicated for front teeth.

• Metal Crowns: These are normally made from gold or alloys and are very strong and hard-wearing. However, they turn less beautifully. They are ordinarily used for teeth at the back, that is, molars.
• Metal-ceramic crowns: These combine the strength given by metal with the aesthetic properties of porcelain, so a good balance is offered.

• Zirconia Crowns: The ceramic used to make them is white and very strong; thus, zirconia crowns are highly durable and very natural in appearance.

How to care for your Dental Crown

You must maintain excellent oral health to extend the life of your dental crown. Let's look at some tips to safeguard your crowns.

• Oral care: Brushing and flossing should be done at least twice a day. Add mouthwash used regularly to maintain good oral care.
• Cut hard foods into small bites: This is the application of reduced pressure exerted in biting down on hard foods, such as ice or hard candy, which can cause a chip or crack of the crown.
• Timely Dental Check-Up: It is important to go to your dentist at regular intervals. A dentist will assess your crown and general oral health for any problems.
• Night Guards: If grinding is diagnosed, a night guard can be fabricated to protect the crown against accelerated wear.

Conclusion: Your Dental Health Partner

The most adaptable tooth restoration technique is undoubtedly the placement of dental crowns. Do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with our dentist in Frisco, TX.  Dental crowns provide you with a long-lasting, attractive, and healthy smile when properly cared for.