Protect and Enhance Teeth With Dental Crowns
When there is more damage to a tooth from extensive decay or trauma than a filling can fix, a treatment option that may be recommended is a dental crown. Crowns can be made of different materials, including metal alloys, ceramics, and porcelain. So, when are crowns the best option and how do they do their job?
When Dental Crowns Are Appropriate
Crowns are one of the most common dental procedures done today. A crown serves two purposes — improve functionality and improve appearance. The dental crown can restore a tooth to its normal shape and size and restore functionality to a damaged tooth. A crown is usually recommended to:
- Cover and protect a tooth that has had a root canal procedure
- Cover a discolored or misshapen tooth to improve a smile
- Anchor a dental bridge
- Repair a tooth when a cavity is too large for a filling
- Restore function and strength to a weakened, worn, or fractured tooth
- Prevent further damage to, or loss of, a tooth that has been cracked or damaged
- Be the visible part of a dental implant when replacing missing teeth
What Does a Dental Crown Do?
A crown is basically a “cap” that is placed over the tooth after it has been modified so the crown will fit. Crowns are permanently attached to the top of a tooth and are designed to function and look like the tooth would have prior to the damage or decay. Crowns have a very high success rate and can last 15 years or more with proper care — which is pretty much the same as the care for your other teeth. Many patients opt for porcelain crowns due to their natural appearance and resistance to staining while still being strong enough to handle the normal wear and tear a tooth undergoes. Porcelain crowns can be color-matched to your other teeth, and porcelain’s translucency makes blending in easier. They are virtually invisible to the casual observer. In fact, for most patients, it is easy to forget the crown is even there.
While a crown can protect a tooth from further decay, it doesn’t prevent it. That is why it is still necessary to maintain a proper oral hygiene regimen and have regularly scheduled exams and cleanings. Of course, the best medicine is prevention. Daily brushing and flossing and regular checkups can, in many cases, help prevent the need for a crown in the first place.
If you are in the Cameron Park, California, area, call us with any questions or to schedule an appointment today to find out if a dental crown is a solution for your dental issues.
