If you have a damaged tooth with a weakened structure, a dental crown could be the solution to restore the tooth’s strength. Lots of things can lead to tooth damage — perhaps you bit down on a hard piece of food that caused physical damage, maybe you had a severe cavity, or even experienced a root canal treatment. All of these things can weaken the structure of your teeth. To prevent the condition of the tooth from worsening, a dental crown can be placed.
15 Facts About Dental Crowns
1. A dental crown can be used to restore the strength of a badly damaged or decayed tooth.
2. In order to place the dental crown so it fits over the natural tooth comfortably, a portion of the natural tooth may have to be removed or contoured.
3. In turn, sometimes the fit of your dental crown can be improved by filling out your natural tooth with tooth filling material before the crown is placed.
4. Dental crowns can also be used to top and cover dental implants.
5. And dental crowns are also used to anchor dental bridges, which bridge the gap left behind by missing teeth.
6. Your dental crown will be custom-made for you: Traditionally, the dentist takes an impression of your tooth and sends it to the dental lab, where a customized crown is made. But with our state-of-the-art E4D machine, we can make your crown the same day of your visit.
7. Dental crowns are hollow pieces of ceramic.
8. Installing a dental crown used to take multiple visits, but with our E4D machine, we can make your custom-made crown during your visit, so the whole process can just take one visit.
9. You can avoid enduring a tooth extraction by getting a dental crown.
10. Dental crowns are also used in conjunction with a root canal treatment for a fully restored tooth.
11. Dental crowns mimic your natural teeth; they are permanent dental prosthetics that are cemented into place.
12. All-ceramic is preferable for both strength and appearance, but dental crowns are also commonly made out of metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, and zirconia.
13. Dental crowns typically last between 5 and 15 years.
14. Dental crowns are sometimes referred to as dental caps or tooth caps.
15. Crowns may need to be replaced when they show excessive wear, they’ve become cracked or damaged, they have discolored so they no longer match your other teeth, or tooth decay has been forming around the edges.
ABOUT YOUR SHREWSBURY DENTISTS:
At Modern Dentistry, Todd A. Pizzi, DDS, and Luciana Messina, DDS, are dedicated to providing high-quality cosmetic, restorative, and preventive dentistry services to patients and families in Shrewsbury, Worcester, North and South Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Boylston, Hopkinton, Millbury, and all surrounding communities. To schedule your next appointment, contact our office by calling (508) 842-6356 today.
