What Are Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns are tooth-shaped oral devices that restore natural teeth. They often feature tooth-colored materials like porcelain but can also feature gold. They improve teeth by replacing the entire exterior of a tooth, usually the enamel. To receive a dental crown, a dentist must thoroughly prepare your tooth, a procedure that can be invasive.

How Is My Tooth Prepared for A Dental Crown?

Tooth preparation is crucial before receiving dental crowns near you. The dentist begins by numbing your mouth with local anesthesia to heighten your comfort during the treatment. Afterward, the dentist will use a dental drill or laser to prepare your tooth. Preparation entails trimming or shaving your tooth enamel. The goal is to remove as much enamel as necessary to create space for a dental crown. Since porcelain dental crowns take significant space, you will part with a substantial amount of your enamel during preparation. For this particular reason, dental crowns in Sunset Hills are irreversible treatments.

Why Would You Need a Crown?

The nature of the treatment can make you second-guess your decision to get dental crowns at My STL Dentist. However, you will need a crown for any of the following conditions:

1. A dental implant – dentists in Sunset Hills place dental crowns over implants to complete the treatment. The dental implant then becomes the root, while the crown becomes the enamel of the tooth.
2. Protecting a weak tooth – if you have weak teeth due to enamel thinning, wearing down, or other factors, a dentist may prescribe a dental crown. The crown will protect the tooth from cracking, breaking, and possible dental decay. A dentist will also place a dental crown over a tooth that is already broken, cracked, or worn down.
3. After a root canal procedure – it is an endodontic treatment to treat the insides of a damaged tooth. Ideally, not all patients need a dental crown after a root canal. Instead, dentists recommend it if your natural tooth needs extra reinforcement to maintain its structural integrity.
4. Holding a dental filling in place – the role of an oral filling is to seal a tooth, protecting it from further bacterial infection. When you receive a sizeable dental filling, it can compromise the strength and compactness of your natural tooth. A dental crown holds the filling in place while strengthening the natural tooth.
5. Completing a dental bridge – a traditional tooth bridge features an artificial replacement tooth and two dental crowns. The dental crowns help support the false tooth in the mouth, anchoring it to the adjacent teeth.

Are Dental Crowns a Worthy Investment?

Given the versatility of a dental crown in restoring damaged teeth, any dental expert would gladly recommend it to their patients. However, in case you need more proof that dental crowns are worthwhile for your smile, consider the following benefits:

1. They fit like a glove – all dental crowns are customized to fit your tooth. After the dentist prepares your natural tooth, (s)he takes its impressions to use in creating a perfectly fitting dental crown. The process usually takes about two weeks. Meanwhile, your dentist will protect your prepared tooth with a temporary dental crown until your permanent one is ready.
2. They save natural teeth – dental crowns provide an alternative treatment for saving natural teeth, instead of tooth extraction.
3. They complement other restorative treatments – including, crowning a dental implant, supporting a large tooth filling, and completing a bridgework for tooth replacement.
4. They improve aesthetics – porcelain crowns match natural teeth. Therefore, dentists can use them to improve teeth’ color, shape, and size, usually as an alternative to dental veneers and composite bonding in cosmetic dentistry.
5. They are long-lasting – a typical dental crown can last between 10 and 15 years. The material of the crown impacts its longevity. Further, the better care you accord your dental crowns after treatment, the longer they last.

Tips to Make Dental Crowns Last Longer

Dental crowns can last long if you care for your mouth well after treatment. Some tips include:

1. Brush and floss your teeth daily
2. Do not skip dental appointments for checkups and cleanings
3. Avoid hard and crunchy foods that risk breaking your dental crowns.
4. Avoid sticky and chewy foods that easily stick on to the crowns
5. Abandon poor oral habits like fingernail biting