When Does the Need for a Dental Crown Arise?
What Are Dental Crowns?
The tooth can be divided into two parts which are the root and the crown. People with healthy bones and gums will have the root of the tooth covered by gums and bone. The crown is the visible part of the tooth that is above the gum line on the lower teeth and below the gum line for the upper teeth. A bonded restoration that completely or partially covers the exterior of the tooth is referred to as a dental crown or cap.
When are Dental Crowns Necessary?
There are a variety of reasons when a dental crown will become a necessity because a tooth may need restoration. The reasons are varied and will depend upon why dental crowns are being recommended rather than other restorative options. The dentist near you may recommend a dental crown for cosmetic reasons while another dentist may recommend them merely to protect your tooth from further damage. The most common reasons why the dentist in Huntington, NY, is recommending dental crowns are for the following:
Large Fillings
A tooth with large cavities or fractures involving half the width of the tooth will require restoration with a crown. The reason for this is that the remaining tooth around the filling would be weak and become prone to fractures. At times large fillings in the mouth need to be replaced with a dental crown because the tooth is displaying signs of stress and cracks around the filling.
Root Canal Treatments
Root Canal treatments often leave the tooth hollowed out and fragile leaving it prone to cracking. Therefore a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment must be restored with a crown to inhibit fracturing.
Cracked Tooth
At times patients have fractures within the tooth causing pain when chewing in a particular way. The chewing stresses the fracture giving the feeling that it could be splitting apart. In such cases, a crown can hold the tooth together to redistribute the stress and eliminate the pain in most instances. In such situations, it is suggested that a temporary crown should be left on the tooth for some time to ensure it can eliminate the pain and the tooth does not require a root canal.
Undesirable Appearance of the Teeth
Many people have teeth that do not appear great because of discoloration, gaps between the teeth, and shape. Dental crowns can make such teeth appear natural and beautiful.
Apart from the above instances, dental crowns can also be used on dental implants or when spaces left behind by missing teeth need to be filled with dental bridges that are made from crowns sitting on the teeth neighboring the spaces and attached to the false teeth in the middle.
What Type of Dental Crowns Are Available on the Market?
Crowns are fabricated from gold alloy, stainless steel, all-porcelain or ceramic, zirconia, composite resin, or porcelain fused to metal. New technology is permitting the dentist in Huntington Station, NY to provide ceramic crowns to patients by using CAD/CAM technology and milling the crowns in the dental office to eliminate the need for a temporary crown which in most cases becomes a requirement because all dentists have not invested in the technology available with Smile Huntington. People, therefore, must choose carefully between traditional and same-day crowns because differences in the prices exist and the same-day variety is more expensive than the rest.
The Procedure for Getting a Dental Crown
Local anesthesia will be administered by the dentist to patients that need a dental crown. Teeth that have undergone root canal treatment or are fractured will need to be filled to restore enough of the tooth to hold a crown. Thereafter the tooth is trimmed to make space for the crown and an impression is taken of the prepared tooth to having the crown fabricated in a dental laboratory. The dentist will determine the shade of the patient’s teeth using a color guide to help the laboratory fabricate crowns that will match the patient’s teeth. Patients will be provided with a temporary crown as protection for the trimmed-down tooth.
Patients must return to the dentist for a second visit after a few weeks when the permanent crown will be ready. The tooth will be numbed again to remove the temporary crown and to place the permanent crown and inspect it for the bite, fit, and smooth margins. After the dentist performs any necessary adjustments the permanent crown will be bonded in place with dental cement.
Dental crowns are an effective restoration procedure that can provide your teeth with strength and functionality if they have been affected by any problems as discussed above. They can also be used for cosmetic purposes if your teeth do not have a pleasing appearance. The reason why you need them will depend upon your unique situation with the guarantee that they can improve the appearance of the tooth or even provide the strength and functionality the tooth needs.
Visit a Dentist Near You
Are you looking for dental crowns in Huntington, NY? Call us or book an appointment with Smile Huntington today!