Who Needs a Dental Crown?
Perfectly aligned and pearly white teeth are essential for having an attractive smile. While some people are naturally blessed with a beautiful set of teeth, others aren’t that lucky. But that doesn’t mean that there is no way to fix flawed smiles. If you have crooked or chipped teeth that negatively affect your smile and facial aesthetics, you can get your smile back with dental crowns.
This article explains everything you need to know about dental crowns; what they are, how they work, and who can benefit from them. So, continue reading to find how dental crowns can help you achieve an attractive and charming smile.
What are Dental Crowns?
According to the American College of Prosthodontists, a dental crown is a cap-shaped structure that sits over damaged natural teeth and restores their structure, function, and esthetics. Unlike dental fillings, which are directly placed on damaged teeth for a restoration, dental crowns are prepared in the dental laboratory and then attached to the prepared teeth using adhesives. At Braselton Smile Studio, we have the most modern technology available and have the ability to fabricate crowns in the office for same day treatment of our patients. Of course, not every case allows for same day crown restorations, but when it does, we provide the expedited treatment for our patients. Patients love this because it saves them an additional trip to the office for the final crown placement.
What are Dental Crowns Made of?
Dental crowns are made of different materials and are used for various purposes based on the extent of tooth damage and the location of the affected tooth. A tooth crown can be made from metal alloys, tooth-colored porcelain, and a combination of porcelain and metal alloys (porcelain fused to metal) - where a metallic substructure is coated with white porcelain to maximize esthetics.
Who Needs Dental Crowns?
Any individual having extensive damaged teeth are candidates for getting dental crowns. Here are some situations where dental crowns are ideal options for restoring teeth:
- Chipped or Cracked Teeth - while minor tooth chips can be restored with tooth-colored composite fillings, more significant tooth damage usually requires an option that can strengthen the remaining tooth structure while restoring optimal esthetics. In these cases, dental crowns are an excellent option.
- Fractured Teeth - depending on the location and extent of the fracture, your dentist may restore a fractured tooth with a crown. The process involves applying a restorative material to fill the gap and then placing a crown over it to reinforce it.
- Teeth with Cavities - teeth that have extensive tooth decay become weak and prone to fracture. Therefore, to prevent the chances of having a fractured tooth, dentists remove the decayed tooth structure, restore it with a suitable filling, and then reinforce it with a crown.
- For Single Tooth Replacement with Implants - dental crowns are also used for replacing single missing teeth with implants. Implant-supported dental crowns remain stable and firmly attached while offering the best esthetics among all tooth replacement options. The American College of Prosthodontists estimates that over 2.3 billion crowns are made each year for replacing teeth with implants.
- Tooth Reshaping - if someone has congenitally misshaped teeth or is not satisfied with their teeth look, dentists can give them the smile of their liking with porcelain crowns. Such a procedure is also known as a smile makeover.
- Permanently Stained Teeth - dental crowns can also be used for masking teeth stains. For example, if someone has permanent teeth stains that do not go away with professional whitening, the only option available is to mask these stains with porcelain veneers or crowns cosmetically.
- Cosmetic Restoration of Teeth Gaps - the ideal treatment option for teeth gaps - also called diastemas - is orthodontic treatment. However, if someone cannot afford braces or Invisalign treatment or is unwilling to wait that long, dentists fix minor teeth spaces and gaps with porcelain veneers.
- After Root Canal Treatment - teeth tend to become brittle after root canal treatment. This is because they lose their blood supply and innervation after the procedure. Brittle teeth are more prone to spontaneous fractures and cracks. Therefore, dentists reinforce these teeth with porcelain or porcelain fused to metal crowns.
How are Dental Crowns Prepared?
Dental implant preparation is a straightforward procedure that is usually completed in 2-3 sittings.
- Clinical Examination and Treatment Planning - during the first appointment, your dentist will examine the damaged tooth and discuss treatment options with you. They will also look at the x-ray images of your teeth to determine the extent of the damage. Based on the findings, they will then prepare a customized treatment plan for you.
- Tooth Preparation - during the next appointment, your dentist will remove a thin layer of the dental enamel from the damaged teeth to create space for attaching the crowns. Don’t worry; it will not damage your teeth. Furthermore, since only a thin layer is removed, local anesthesia is usually not required.
- Impression Making - after tooth preparation, your dentist will make impressions of your teeth and send them to the dental laboratory for fabrication.
- Crown Insertion - at the final appointment, your dentist will first try the crowns on your prepared teeth without cementation - to check the esthetics and fit. Once you and the dentist are satisfied with the crowns, they permanently will bond the crowns to your teeth using adhesive resin.
What are the Benefits of Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns offer several benefits over direct filings:
- Dental crowns are much more durable and stronger than filings
- Dental crowns strengthen and reinforce grossly damaged or weakened teeth
- Crowns are considerably more resistant to staining than composite fillings
- Dental crowns possess superior esthetics than direct filling
- Dental crowns can also be repaired to some extent
Don’t let your crooked or stained teeth affect your smile. When it comes to restoring damaged teeth, dental crowns are one of the most effective and time-tested options. Book an appointment with a dentist nearby and walk away with a beautiful and charming smile with dental crowns.
Author
Dr. Oluyemi Workman
Dr. Oluyemi Workman is the owner and founder of Braselton Smile Studio in Braselton Georgia. Her mission for Braselton Smile Studio is simple - treat her patients like family and provide a wonderful dental experience for her patients.
