DO I NEED A DENTAL CROWN?

Your teeth do a lot of hard work, chopping and grinding all of the food you eat. It would be silly to expect that anything could work as hard as your teeth for decade after decade and not require at least small repairs eventually. One way your dentist can repair a tooth is by installing a dental crown, sometimes called a dental cap.

WHAT IS A DENTAL CROWN?

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is installed over a damaged but salvageable tooth. The purpose of the crown is to repair, restore, and stabilize the tooth, allowing existing tissue and material which need not be removed to be saved.

There are two types of dental crown; a partial and a full crown. A partial crown is used when just part of a tooth needs to be covered. A full crown covers the entire top of a tooth. Full crowns can come in silver, gold, or can be made to look exactly like your real tooth.

WHEN DO YOU NEED A DENTAL CROWN?

People who should have a dental crown installed can often go long periods without one and feel few painful consequences. However, putting off a dental crown treatment will inevitably lead to further damage, and possibly significant pain. Damaged teeth that could be saved using a dental crown can become unsalvageable if the treatment is not done in a timely fashion.

Your dentist may advise you to have a dental crown installed if he finds any of the following conditions;

• A cracked tooth
• Severe enamel wear
• A broken tooth that can be repaired
• A dental implant which should be covered
• A dental bridge which needs additional support
• A large filling which needs structural support

WHAT HAPPENS IF I PUT IT OFF?

A lot of folks will put off getting a dental crown for several reasons. In some cases, the patient feels no pain and assumes there is no need for a crown. Other times the cost or an irrational fear of the dentist keeps people from getting the treatment they need.

Putting off getting a dental crown is likely to lead to greater harm to your dental condition with painful and sometimes health-threatening results. The damage that results may require more than a simple dental crown. It could lead to the complete destruction of the affected tooth or teeth. The tooth could crack or split down to the root, making a root canal and complete removal necessary. The worse the damage becomes, the less likely it is that a crown will save the tooth. Once this point of no return is reached, the required treatments are more intrusive, more expensive, and more uncomfortable.

Dental crowns are very common because they prevent more invasive procedures from becoming necessary. Crowns are less expensive than more invasive treatments and far less uncomfortable. That’s why, if your dentist recommends a crown, it means you have caught the condition at an early stage that is relatively easy to repair. This is an opportunity to do the most good with the least cost and effort for both you and your dentist. It is an opportunity should not be passed up.

In short, dental crowns are customizable, and relatively simple solution for stabilizing teeth that could be destroyed by further neglect.

To learn more about dental crowns and to schedule a checkup, contact us today! Our professional staff is standing by to answer your questions.