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What is a Dental Crown?
Your dentist may recommend treatment with a crown for a variety of reasons. A crown is a common dental treatment that helps restore the integrity of the tooth structure. It’s a great option when a tooth becomes fractured, cracked, broken, or presents significant decay. It can also improve the look of your smile using a cosmetic dental crown. See below some of the ways Dr. Hale can treat dental issues and concerns with a crown.
Why do I need a Dental Crown?
- Restore your teeth back to good health. A restorative crown can help relieve pain or prevent pain from happening in a structurally unsound tooth.
- In lieu of another dental treatment such as after an implant or root canal procedure, a dental crown is placed.
- Cosmetically alter the shape of teeth and enhance the look of your smile.
Restorative | Tooth Repair
Fix A Fractured or Broken Tooth
A cracked tooth can present itself in many ways. In some cases, part of the tooth can break off. In others, the crack can split the tooth. Damage can happen on all sides of the tooth, not just through the middle. Fractures can be horizontal, vertical, or both. Some tooth cracks can even go undetected.
“People oftentimes are completely unaware of a crack in their tooth until it becomes symptomatic. ” – Dr. Jonathan Hale
Reasons why a tooth may crack
- Eating hard food
- Stress causes jaw clenching
- Trauma such as an automobile accident
- Grinding of the teeth
- Weak or decayed tooth
- Large fillings
Fun Tooth Fact: If you find that your tooth has cracked or chipped without warning, there may have been an undiagnosed break before it became symptomatic. Cracks in teeth will eventually cause pain, sensitivity, or more severe conditions if left untreated.
Replace a Large Cavity Filling with Dental Crowns
Repair Decay in Teeth with Dental Crowns
The decay in a tooth is called a cavity. And when you hear the sound of the drill, that is what your dentist is removing. Decay is untrustworthy and can surprise dentists in good ways and bad. In this case, a large filling that begins to cause the patient pain rarely surprises Dr. Hale.
Just as decay is hard to predict until restoration is in progress, a large filling is not a permanent solution to a tooth that presents a lot of rot. Sensitivity is usually the result of a weak tooth structure, indicating that the filling may have been too large. A crown is a better option when there is a high probability that a filling will weaken the tooth’s integrity.
A dentist can only perform cavity fillings to a certain point before the filling begins to weaken the tooth. A dental crown will strengthen a tooth because it surrounds the tooth, unlike what fillings do. A decayed tooth that will require a large cavity filling can become unstable over time due to the uneven force of chewing, sometimes cracking the filling as well.
Cosmetic Dental Crowns
Crowns repair teeth! By the way, did you know that they can enhance your smile, too? Dental crowns can fix misshapen teeth, support implants, and cap a root canal. They are also an alternative to dental veneers. If you grind your teeth at night or have an uneven bite, veneers may not be the right choice.
If you are thinking about getting a dental crown for cosmetic reasons, be sure to check with your insurance to see if it’s covered. Cosmetic procedures are rarely covered, but there may be reasons beyond the visible eye that may warrant a restorative crown with cosmetic benefits!
Dental Crowns After Procedures
Dental Crown After Root Canal
If you recently saw an endodontist, aka a dentist specializing in root canals, then you are due to go back to your general dentist for a crown. It’s normal for a crown to be placed on top of the tooth that had a root canal to keep it in good health. A tooth that has had a root canal is vulnerable to further bacteria and infection until the canals have been sealed with the final restoration. This helps protect the tooth from further damage and helps prevent decay.
Implant Crown & Abutment after Implant
People often confuse the dental implant with the permanent crown that sits on top of the implant. The implant is what is surgically implanted into the bone of the mouth which holds the implant abutment crown inside of it. After the implant has healed, either an oral surgeon or general dentist will complete the implant process with a dental crown and abutment. More simply, this is the false tooth that is screwed into the implant. An implant is not complete without the crowns.
Same-Day Crowns
Hale Family Dentistry does not offer Same-Day crowns at our Fort Wayne location. While some dentists offer this option, our process is extremely effective and is proven to deliver great results. Dr. Hale prefers the use of dental technologists and systems set up in the dental laboratory to do the milling of crowns. Dental lab technicians have college degrees in these specific skills and also have time dedicated to creating the most beautiful smile possible. Same-Day smiles use dental assistants in busy offices that may not be completely trained to deliver the best results possible. Outsourcing to highly skilled local dental labs is our go-to process for dental crowns.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of a dental crown can vary based on factors like type of crown material and location. On average, it ranges from $800 to $2,500.
A dental crown procedure involves placing a customized cap over a damaged or weakened tooth to restore its shape, function, and appearance.
Dental crowns are typically attached using dental cement, a strong adhesive that securely bonds the crown to the tooth. Dentists also use temporary cement for short term crowns or temporary crowns while the custom one is being fabricated.
Dental crowns are generally safe, but some potential issues include sensitivity, allergic reactions to materials, or the need for replacement over time. Proper care and maintenance can mitigate these risks.