To make the best treatment decision for your smile, you need to know the facts about dental crowns.
How Dental Crowns Protect Teeth
When a tooth is compromised by a deep cavity, large crack or chip, or extreme wear, it needs a new shell to hold it together.
A dental crown goes on the outside of a tooth and covers it on all sides extending to just below the gum line. It provides protection and reinforcement when the tooth’s outer layer is too compromised to keep the tooth safe. A dental cap seals out bacteria and food debris and helps insulate the tooth from extreme temperatures.
In most cases, getting a crown is the last-resort option to save a tooth. Without a crown, the tooth faces painful fractures, abscess, and a possible root canal or even extraction. Crowns extend the life of teeth and provide more protection than dental fillings.
How Dental Crowns Are Placed
A dental cap sits over a natural tooth. The core and root of the tooth usually remain in place unchanged. But a crown doesn’t just slip over the whole tooth. It actually replaces the outer layer of the tooth. Some of the tooth is trimmed away so that the cap fits neatly among the other existing teeth.
At the first crown appointment, the tooth is evaluated with x-rays. A restorative dentist like Dr. Guzmán gets the tooth numbed up just like he would do for a dental filling. In fact, the procedure feels similar to getting a filling. It just takes a little longer. With the help of numbing shots and even a little dental sedation, you won’t feel much, at all.
Next, the tooth is trimmed down to a nub. Impressions or scans are taken to determine the shape of the crown so that it will comfortably interlock with other surrounding teeth in the bite.
At Asiri, we offer same day crowns. With our special state of the art technology we offer the convenience of delivering your crowns the same day without having to wait 2 to 3 weeks for the final restoration to return from the lab.
Types of Dental Crowns
Crowns come in one of four main types:
Gold crowns last the longest and are gentle on teeth. The downsides are that they tend to be expensive and highly visible. Non-noble metal crowns are a bit cheaper and almost as durable as gold ones.
Zirconia is a titanium-like metal. Crowns made from this material are extremely strong but look a little more natural than other metal crowns. For the most natural look, a full porcelain crown is the best choice. It’s the best material for restoring front teeth where the crown will be visible in the smile.
If you’d like a combination of strength and beauty, you can get a combination crown. Porcelain-fused-to-metal caps look like natural teeth on the outside but have the strength of metal on the inside.
Life with a Dental Crown
You can still chew your favorite foods with a dental crown and your brushing and flossing routine will stay the same. No one else will even notice that you have a dental crown if you get one that blends in with your smile.
Little changes after getting a crown. You may, however, experience some sensitivity in the first week after having a tooth capped. That’s quite normal. It just takes a little time for your crowned tooth to adjust to its new cover.
Dental crowns don’t make your teeth invincible. You should never use a crowned tooth as a tool thinking that it’s stronger than a natural tooth. Any force that could damage natural tooth enamel is enough to damage a crown.
Your dental crown has to be kept clean with daily brushing and flossing if you want it to last you a long time just like the rest of your other teeth. Otherwise, bacteria can sneak in at the gum line and work their way under the crown margin and start a cavity. Additionally, the tooth root and gums around the crown are still prone to gum disease.