Dental Crowns: The Dental Repair Treatment Par Excellence

Dental crowns help protect damaged or worn teeth.

A damaged tooth can represent a severe problem for a person’s dental health. It could result from very bad tooth decay or a fracture, causing a tooth to deteriorate considerably.

When a tooth is damaged, there are two options: repair it or extract it. When the tooth’s damage is not so severe that an extraction is necessary, the tooth can be restored through several procedures.

Tooth fillings, inlays and onlays, and porcelain veneers are some of the best-known dental restorative treatments. However, one of the best options for repairing a damaged or a weakened tooth is dental crowns.

What are dental crowns?

A dental crown is a type of fixed prosthesis used to treat a weakened, cracked, or fractured tooth; these are set on the damaged tooth (previously carved) using a dental adhesive.

Dental crowns are used if it is not possible to repair the tooth with resins.

Generally, dental crowns are made of ceramic or porcelain. However, they can also be made of gold, metallic alloys, or acrylic.

The use of dental crowns can protect a weakened or worn tooth, to cover a fractured or deformed tooth, or even to cover a dental implant. Dental crowns are also used to protect a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment.

How is a dental crown placed on a tooth?

Before fabricating the crown, the dentist must carve the tooth to reduce its size and change its shape so that the crown can be fitted correctly. The dentist will then take an impression of the prepared tooth and send it to a dental laboratory where the replacement crown will be fabricated from the materials specified by the dentist. The dentist will place a temporary crown over the tooth to protect it until the final crown is finished.

When the permanent crown is ready, the dentist will remove the temporary crown and replace it with the new crown, fixing it with a strong dental resin.

How long do dental crowns last and what is the proper care?

Dental crowns can last a lifetime; however, they can sometimes become loose, come off, or even break. To avoid any damage to the new dental crown, it is necessary to maintain proper dental hygiene. Brushing your teeth at least three times a day, in addition to flossing and mouthwash, will keep your teeth and gums in perfect condition and will ensure the longevity of dental crowns and natural teeth.

It is also advisable to avoid chewing hard food or things that could damage or even break the dental crowns.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of dental crowns?

Dental crowns offer an effective solution to repair teeth that have suffered some problem that has compromised their structure. Depending on the case, a dental crown is recommended for:

• Protecting a cracked, worn, fractured, or decayed tooth.
• Covering a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment.
• Improving the aesthetics of a stained, discolored, or crooked tooth.
• Covering a dental implant.

Also, dental crowns offer a high success rate compared to other types of restorative treatments, as well as being a long-term solution, since they last much longer than other procedures.

On the other hand, the main disadvantage of dental crowns is that it is necessary to carve the tooth so that the crown can be placed. This is irreversible. Besides, in some cases, the carved tooth may suffer from hypersensitivity when in contact with very cold or very hot food or drinks.

In some cases, crowns can loosen, increasing the risk that bacteria can penetrate under the dental crown; however, this can be easily repaired by fixing the crown again with dental resin.

However, the advantages offered by dental crowns are far more significant and more noticeable than their disadvantages, making dental crowns one of the best dental restorative treatments.

A dental crown can be the solution for you if you suffer from a damaged, worn, or fractured tooth.

If you are looking for the best place to find the solution to your dental health problems, you have to visit our dental practice in Concord, NC. Here at FRESHDental, we are experts in dental restorative procedures, especially when it comes to dental crowns. We’re the best option!