Has your dentist recommended a crown for your tooth? What is a crown? Why would you need one? There are many situations when a tooth requires a crown.
What is a crown?
A crown is a tooth-shaped covering that is placed over a tooth to restore its shape, size, strength, and improve its overall appearance. Crowns fully encase the visible portion of the tooth.
When are crowns needed?
When restoring a broken tooth
If a tooth breaks and there is not enough tooth left to support a filling, then a crown is recommended. Additionally, if a tooth has a crack, then a crown may be required to further strengthen the tooth.
When restoring a tooth that has recurrent decay around a large existing filling
When recurrent decay occurs around a filling that is already large, then a crown is required to adequately restore the tooth. After the old filling is removed along with the new decay, there is not enough natural tooth structure to support another filling. When this occurs, a crown is made to fully encompass the tooth for a more predictable outcome.
To cover a dental implant
Dental implant crowns attach to the implant with a custom abutment.
To improve the cosmetic aspect of a tooth
There are cosmetic limitations to composite fillings when it comes to enhancing a tooth’s appearance. Also, there is only so much we can do with composite material when it comes to changing the shape and color of a tooth. Often all ceramic crowns are a better option when creating a long-term cosmetic improvement for a tooth.
To cover a root canal treated tooth
Most of the time, a root canal treated tooth requires a crown. There are very few exceptions to this. When a tooth requires root canal treatment, the overall strength of the tooth is compromised, requiring a crown to improve strength and long-term prognosis.
The dental lab we use for crowns is in our building! This allows us to fully customize the crown you need for any given situation. Have we recommended a crown for you? You can reach us at 919-866-1360 or click here to reach us online.