A dental crown is one of the most common types of treatment in general dentistry. It is usually applied when a tooth has become damaged and requires extra support to maintain functionality. A dentist may recommend a crown if there is no other way to save the tooth. Before agreeing to the procedure, patients should ask the dentist why a crown is necessary and how the process works to gain a greater understanding of what is to come.
A tooth may require a crown for a variety of reasons, all of which are dependent on the patient’s lifestyle, diets, oral hygiene habits, and injuries that have affected the mouth. Sometimes teeth can be fixed with smaller procedures, like a bonding or filling, but a crown comes into play when teeth are severely damaged from various causes.
If not cared for properly, teeth can easily start to decay from bacteria that naturally form in the mouth. Oftentimes, a patient’s diet includes too many sugars and carbohydrates that cause plaque to build around teeth, sealing in bacteria. Once the decay reaches the inside of the tooth, called the pulp, it can cause pain, and a root canal procedure is needed to remove the pulp and the top of the tooth. A crown is necessary to cap off the tooth afterward.
Teeth naturally wear down over time from chewing and grinding. Sometimes teeth can get chipped or cracked, or entire pieces can break off, weakening the structure and increasing the chance of complete tooth loss. A crown can reinforce the tooth by sealing the cracks and preventing further damage.
Occasionally, other dental procedures require a crown to hold new appliances in place. Bridges, which are used to fill in the gaps of missing teeth, need crowns to adhere to the natural teeth on either side of the gap. A filling in general dentistry often involves filing down a section of tooth, and a crown can replace any height that was lost. Crowns are also used to top off dental implants.
Perhaps the simplest of reasons, a crown can be used to conceal oddly shaped or discolored teeth. The dentist can match the crown color or size to that of the patient’s other teeth, creating a whole, even smile.
Expect two general dentistry visits to receive a permanent dental crown. The first visit includes examining the problem tooth, reshaping the tooth to make room for the crown, and taking an impression of the tooth. The impression is usually sent to a lab outside the dental office. Once the permanent crown is made, patients return for a second visit to receive it. A temporary crown is placed in between these visits.
Dental crowns can fix many problems, but they are not necessarily a patient’s only option. Discussing treatment in detail with a dentist allows patients to choose what is right for them.
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