Dental Crowns Appropriate Restorations for Damaged Teeth

Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps placed over the tooth to restore its shape, size, strength and to improve its appearance. When cemented in place, dental crowns entirely encase the portion of the tooth lying above the gum line.

• Dental crowns are appropriate restorations if you have a weak tooth from decay from breaking or holding together pieces of a cracked tooth.
• A tooth cap is useful for restoring a broken tooth or a severely worn down tooth.
• A tooth crown is beneficial for supporting teeth with extensive fillings where significant tooth structure is lost.
• Dental crowns are useful for holding dental bridges in place or cover dental implants.

What Types of Crowns Can You Have?

Various materials are used for making crowns like metal, alloy, porcelain fused to metal, all-ceramic, or all resin. These materials are used to make permanent crowns and require help from a dental laboratory to create them. However, if you need temporary crowns before having permanent placements, your dentist can create one at the dentist’s office.

Dentistry innovations now make available dental crowns fabricated by the dentist using CEREC technology to provide restoration in the dental office.

How do Dentists Prepare the Tooth for a Crown?

If you need dental crowns, you must prepare yourself to visit the dentist’s office a couple of times. The first appointment is for examining and preparing the tooth, and the second visit entails the placement of a permanent crown.

During the first visit to the dentist in Easton, ex-rays of your tooth root are taken to examine the surrounding bone. If your tooth has excessive decay or is exposed to the risk of infection or injury, you are recommended root canal therapy before having the crown. If no issues are detected, the dentist begins preparing your tooth for restoration.

Your tooth is numbed with local anesthesia, and it is reshaped from the sides and the chewing surface to make space for the crown. The removal of tooth structure depends on the type of crown you have chosen. After reshaping your tooth, the dentist takes an impression of the same for the dental laboratory where the crown is created. The dental laboratory requires two to three weeks to return the crown to your dentist. At the end of the first appointment, the dentist places a temporary crown from acrylic over your prepared tooth for protection.

During your second visit, dental crowns in Easton, PA, will check the permanent restoration’s fit and color and remove the temporary placement. If everything is according to plan, the dentist will numb your tooth and permanently cement the new arrangement.

How to Care for Your Dental Crown?

Dental crowns do not require any special attention. However, you must remember the crowned tooth is not protected from decay or gum disease. Therefore you must follow acceptable dental hygiene practices by brushing twice daily and flossing at least once. You can rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash at least once a day. You must floss around the crown where it meets the gum to remove plaque buildup, which inevitably develops.

Can You Develop Any Complications with Dental Crowns?

You may experience discomfort and sensitivity with your newly crowned tooth as the anesthesia begins to wear off. Your tooth will be sensitive to hot and cold temperatures if it still has a nerve in it. Your dentist recommends you brush your teeth with toothpaste created for sensitive teeth. If you experience pain or sensitivity when you bite down, it indicates the crown is too high on the tooth. In such cases, you must call the dentist to have the problem fixed.

Crowns created from porcelain or porcelain fused to metal can chip. If the chip is tiny composite resin can repair the same with the crown remaining in your mouth. The fixing is usually temporary, but you will need a replacement if the chipping is extensive.

Sometimes crowns can fall off because of decay of the underlying tooth and versioning of the cement. If you experience this issue, you can clean the crown and the front of the tooth. Replacing the crown using dental adhesive available in stores is recommended. However, you can also contact your dentist’s office for specific instructions on caring for the tooth and crown for the day. Your dentist will invite you for an evaluation and attempt to cement it again. If it fails, a new crown will be made.

Besides the above complications, you are unlikely to experience any further issues unless you do not maintain proper dental hygiene. Dental crowns are durable and will remain with you for over a decade, proving appropriate restorations for damaged teeth.