You know how important it is to brush twice per day and floss daily, and that you need regular checkups. But do you know what a dental crown is or why you might need one?
The providers at Oasis Dental in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, recommend crowns for a variety of oral health reasons, and we’ve discovered that patients often don’t fully understand how a crown works or why getting one could be important. Here, we describe some of the reasons we might use a dental crown.
The crown of a tooth is the part you can see, while the tooth root sits under your gum. A dental crown, or cap, is a strong cover that is custom-made to surround and protect your natural tooth.
It may be placed in order to seal a tooth after a procedure, to lend a tooth strength and maintain structure, or to improve how a tooth looks. Sometimes a dental crown is used along with a dental implant to restore functionality.
If your dentist recommends a dental crown, your problem likely falls into one of the three following categories. Although having a dental procedure may seem intimidating, getting a crown can vastly improve your oral health.
If your tooth is cracked, chipped, or worn, a crown could be a good solution for you. If you think about what your teeth do, day after day, it’s easy to understand how they might wear down or become damaged.
Using your teeth as tools (please don’t anymore), chewing hard candy or ice cubes, and eating items that are hard or particularly difficult to chew — all of this use is rough on your teeth. A dental crown can protect a weakened or damaged tooth.
When you have a root canal, your dentist drills a small hole in your tooth in order to access and remove the infected or decayed material around the root of your tooth. If you were left with a hole, bacteria could reach the inner parts of your teeth and lead to more infection or decay.
The last step in a root canal is usually having a crown placed. The crown protects your tooth and adds strength.
Crowns can help support a tooth, but they can also make a tooth look nice. If your tooth is discolored or you have a large filling or some other cosmetic concern, a crown can cover it.
Crowns are often used along with a bridge to replace missing teeth. A crown is placed on the tooth next to the gap, and the bridge is then secured to the crown.
Crowns are both affordable and reliable. If your dentist recommends a crown, your tooth likely needs protection, restoration, or additional support. Plus, crowns are durable as long as you continue to practice excellent oral hygiene.
If you have questions about getting a crown or you’d like to go ahead and schedule getting yours placed, make an appointment with the team at Oasis Dental today.
