A crown is a cap that is bonded to a damaged or decayed tooth to restore its strength, function, and beauty. It can be fabricated from metals such as gold, silver, and alloys, as well as tooth-colored materials such as porcelain and composite. The most appropriate choice for your case depends on the location of the tooth in your mouth, as this determines how much strength it must be able to withstand, as well as its visibility when smiling in order to maintain a natural appearance.
Your dentist may recommend dental crowns for:
Fractured Tooth
A chipped, broken, or fractured tooth may not necessarily cause pain if the damage doesn’t reach the nerves in the tooth pulp. However, you may experience sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks, with the discomfort increasing as more damage occurs. In such a case, your dentist may recommend a dental crown to protect the tooth and prevent further damage.
Weakened Filling
Dental fillings are the most common restoration for cavities. But if the cavity is too large, it may result in a weak filling with no durability. In such a case, your dentist may recommend that you get a crown instead of fillings to repair the cavity. Crowns can also be used to replace previously placed fillings to strengthen the tooth.
Infected Tooth
When you have severe decay that has infected the tooth pulp (section inside the tooth that contains the nerves and blood vessels), it is possible to save the tooth through root canal therapy. However, the structure of the repaired tooth will have weakened considerably, affecting its normal function. As such, your dentist may recommend that you get a dental crown to encase the restored tooth to strengthen it. The crown also serves an aesthetic function as it covers up the filler material, giving your smile a natural appearance.
Tooth Replacement
Dental crowns can be used to anchor the artificial tooth to strong natural teeth when replacing missing teeth with bridgework. If you opt for dental implants, a titanium post will be implanted into the jawbone to serve as the tooth root. Once it heals, a crown will be connected to the post via an abutment, becoming your replacement tooth.
Cosmetic Reasons
Dental crowns are custom-made to restore the shape, size, and even shade of a damaged tooth if you use a tooth-colored crown. As such, your dentist may recommend crowns to enhance the appearance of imperfect teeth such as:
- Excessively or unevenly worn down – resulting in very short teeth
- Badly shaped teeth
- Severely stained teeth
- Widely gapped teeth
Learn More About Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are an affordable and versatile dental treatment that can be used for repair or cosmetic dental applications.
To learn more about Dental Crowns in San Juan Capistrano CA please contact us today.
