Damaged and failing teeth are not only painful, but they can also ruin the appearance of your smile. Fortunately, getting a dental crown in Wendell can restore your tooth to its full function so that you can flash those pearly whites with confidence again.
Are you curious to learn the many other reasons you might need this treatment? We’ve listed them below, along with several benefits you’ll notice after getting a dental crown.
What Does a Dental Crown Do?
Dental crowns are excellent for repairing or replacing compromised teeth. They’re designed to protect your tooth’s root by keeping it intact once it’s been damaged somehow. A crown mimics the form, function, and shade of your tooth, allowing you to eat and chew without pain.
What to Expect During the Procedure
The standard protocol for performing a dental crown treatment is to first examine the affected tooth. We’d then need to prepare the tooth by creating a base for the crown to fit. Finally, we place the crown, protecting the vulnerable tooth.
Before the advances in dentistry, dental crown treatments used to take upwards of four weeks to be fully complete. Thanks to our state-of-the-art technology, you can get your treatment done in just one visit. Many patients find this to be convenient.
Why Might You Need a Dental Crown?
For the most part, you will need a crown to strengthen and protect your tooth after a fracture, injury, or damage to its internal structure. The pulp (nerves) of your tooth can become exposed after trauma and become susceptible to bacteria and other external factors that can cause sensitivity.
Below are some of the primary reasons dental professionals recommend crowns for patients:
To Protect a Weakened Tooth
Dental crowns can make a tooth stronger, which is why we recommend them for severely decayed or weakened teeth. If dental decay has caused your tooth to become weak, we can place a dental crown over it to prevent it from breaking. Crowns can also hold together a tooth that has begun to crack.
To Restore a Damaged Tooth
Dental crowns can restore a tooth that is already broken or severely worn down. The protection it provides allows your tooth to restore its ability to chew and grind, removing its vulnerability. Dental crowns can also be used when you have a cavity that is too large for a filling.
As a Cosmetic Modification
Crowns also have cosmetic purposes! If one of your teeth is oddly shaped or discolored, we can place a crown over it to conceal it. We may recommend this treatment if that tooth is also weak or damaged. Our office also offers several other cosmetic solutions if you’re mostly focused on aesthetics.
To Hold a Dental Bridge in Place
If you’re getting a dental bridge to replace several missing teeth, you will need at least one dental crown to hold it in place. These caps typically go on either side of the missing tooth to anchor the bridge that fills the gap.
To Cover a Dental Implant
Patients may require a dental implant procedure if they’re missing a tooth or had one extracted. The implant replaces the root, but you’ll need a custom crown to replace the tooth. This treatment is the most recommended for replacing teeth because of its incredible strength, durability, and success rate.
Dental crowns are also strongly recommended as protection after a root canal treatment.
Other Types of Crowns
Not all dental crowns are created equal! Besides the different kinds of materials used, there are other types of customized crowns available for those who do not require a full one. These are called inlays and onlays.
These types of crowns only cover a portion of the affected tooth. They’re similar to fillings, as they restore decayed, chipped, or fractured teeth. Inlays and onlays are excellent alternatives to composite resin fillings because of their better longevity. The difference between the two is that an inlay fits inside the tooth, and the onlay extends onto the chewing surface.
Getting an inlay or onlay over a traditional dental crown allows you to preserve as much of your natural tooth as possible. We usually need to file down the tooth got the crown to fit properly, but these alternatives eliminate that.
What Are Some Additional Benefits of Crowns?
Other than restorative reasons, dental crowns can also offer many other advantages. If you’re getting this treatment done, you may notice the following:
- Easy maintenance
- Simple procedure
- Better-looking smile
- Protection for your tooth
- Long-lasting
Do You Need a Dental Crown in Wendell?
If you have a tooth that needs to be repaired, don’t wait another day. The team at Tryon Family Dentistry is happy to help you decide if a dental crown is the best option for you. Please feel free to give us a call if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment.
