Dental crowns are quite common and can be used to treat a wide variety of problems, but you might not know too much about them. Regardless of whether you need to replace a damaged tooth, get a root canal, or just want to improve the aesthetics of your smile, a crown can be a great option for you. To help you get a better idea of what crowns really are, here is an overview of the subject:
What is a crown?
A crown is basically a cap that covers a large portion of a tooth. They are often used when a tooth has significant structural damage, caused by circumstances such as extensive decay or the aftermath of a root canal. Installing a crown can take quite a while, but they also tend to last a very long time. Most crowns are made of porcelain or a metal alloy, which means that crowns are both pleasing to look at and quite durable. That being said, if you do opt for porcelain, you should take extra precautions to avoid substances that might stain the crown, such as coffee.
So how is a crown installed?
When you first visit your dentist to get a crown installed, the tooth must first be prepared for the new crown. This will involve cleaning up decay in the general area and preparing the site for the installation. Your dentist will then take some measurements of your tooth, which will be used to craft the final product. It can take weeks to build the crown and send it to you, so you will need a temporary solution in the interim.
A temporary crown will likely be installed so that you can continue to chew and smile with confidence in the meantime. Additionally, these temporary crowns protect your teeth from further decay and damage, since bacteria that get deep into your teeth can lead to extreme pain and the infection of other teeth and your gums.
Is a crown a good choice for improving your smile?
Depending on your needs, a dental crown might not be the best choice. If your only concern is to improve your smile, then a crown might be a bit of overkill. Crowns cover a lot more of the tooth than is visible in your smile, so a lot of the effort is wasted if you are just looking to have a better smile. In such a situation, veneers or a whitening regimen might be more viable.
On the other hand, if you want to protect your teeth and consider the improvement of your smile to be a beneficial side effect, then a crown can be an excellent choice. Crowns can simultaneously make your teeth look a lot better while reinforcing their structure and keeping your teeth protected from decay.
Share25 November 2015
My son was outside playing with some friends when he accidentally fell down and hit his mouth on the sidewalk. The fall knocked out his front tooth, so I immediately placed the tooth in a small jar and added some milk. I rushed my son to the dental clinic and the dentist immediately took us into the examination room. The dentist placed the tooth back into the socket and saved it. My name is Beverly Tillman and thanks to the quick work of the dentist, my son didn't lose his tooth. Since this was a scary time for me and my son, I wanted to write this blog as a source of information for other parents who are facing a dental emergency. First of all, don't panic and get to your dentist as soon as possible. I hope this blog will help to answer your questions about dental emergencies.