If you have been told by a dentist that you need dental Crowns, there are chances that you will have many questions going inside your mind. A dental crown is a porcelain restoration that fits over an existing tooth to restore its shape, size strength, and appearance. In this blog, we will discuss dental crowns and their advantages and disadvantages.
Here we go!
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a type of prosthetic device specifically designed to cover a tooth. It is made from porcelain, ceramic metal, or a combination of these. Crowns cover the visible portion of the tooth up to the gum line.
A dental crown can:
– If there is significant damage, restore the shape and size of a tooth.
– Protect a brittle.
– Keep pieces of a chipped or broken tooth
– Cap a cusp with an extensive filling.
– Stabilize a dental bridge
– Cover a dental implant
Reasons Why You May Need a Crown
Your dentist may recommend a crown for various reasons include:
- Bulky restoration – In case a tooth already has a large filling placement of another solution might deteriorate the strength even further. A crown caps what little remains of the tooth.
- Teeth that are cracked or broken – Crowns can save a tooth if it is badly fractured because of injury.
- Stained teeth – Crowns enhance such discolored teeth that do not respond to professional cleaning and whitening treatments.
- Damaged teeth – Teeth grinding or standard chewing over a long time can erode tooth enamel and damage such a weakened state. Crowns reinforce the teeth.
The Crown Placement Process
The process of getting a crown usually requires several dental visits. First, the dentist shaves down and makes impressions to get a true image of your crown. A provisional crown is placed to protect while the permanent one is formed in a laboratory, taking about 2-3 weeks. On your subsequent visit, the permanent custom crown is placed. Once the area has been numbed, your dentist will take off the temporary crown and cement in place a new one that may need adjustments to make sure your bite is comfortable.
Pros and cons of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns have advantages as well as some possible disadvantages to consider:
Pros:
- Regain the normal contour and function of broken teeth
- Prevent cracked teeth from worsening
- Strengthen weak, worn teeth
- Make discolored or misshapen teeth look better.
- Supports dental bridges and implants
Cons:
- Decomposition of sound tooth structure is required.
- They do not last a lifetime – crowns may have to be replaced after 8-15 years.
- More expensive than many other dental treatments.
- It involves several dental visits spanning a few weeks.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this sheds a bit of light on what dental crowns are all about – why they might be prescribed, the process for acquiring one, and their general advantages/disadvantages. Inquire whether a crown would improve your dental situation from the dentist at Harrow Dental Practice today. Here the experts will guide from the beginning till the end.