Instances That Call For a Dental Crown
When something goes wrong with a tooth, it’s only natural to think about next steps. Would a dental filling suffice or does the damage require a more robust solution? If your tooth is vulnerable enough, our Portage, MI, dentist may recommend it be protected with a porcelain dental crown.
Here are a few instances where you may need a dental crown placed.
What Is the Purpose of a Crown?
Just like a helmet on our heads, a crown serves as a similar protective “cap” for our teeth. It is tooth-shaped and placed over a damaged tooth to restore shape, size, strength, and overall appearance. Our dentist may move forward with dental crown placement for a variety of reasons, such as when a cavity is too large for a filling.
What to Expectfor the Procedure
The typically requires two visits to our Portage, MI, dental office. During the first visit, our dentist will prepare the affected tooth by removing any decay and reshaping it to fit the crown. Digital impressions of your teeth will be taken and sent to a trusted dental lab where your custom porcelain crown is created to match the shape and color of your surrounding teeth.
While your permanent crown is being crafted, you will receive a temporary one to protect your tooth. Once your permanent crown is ready, you’ll return for the second visit, where it will be carefully placed and adjusted for a perfect fit. With proper care, your crown can last for many years, providing durable protection and improving the overall health of your smile.
You May Need a Dental Crown if You’ve Had:
1. Root Canal Treatment
Deep tooth decay or infection should never be ignored as it can negatively affect the tooth’s inner nerve and pulp. Pulp is the soft tissue located beneath the white enamel and the subsequent hard layer, dentin. It contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue.
When the nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, bacteria begins to spread inside of the pulp chamber. This can cause an infection or even an abscessed tooth. To eliminate bacteria from the infected and prevent reinfection, our dentist will perform necessary treatment.
We’ll carefully remove the inflamed or infected pulp and clean the inside of the tooth before sealing it back up. Our dentist will finish restoring the tooth by placing a dental crown on top. The crown will prevent the tooth from breaking and give it strength.
2. A Dental Implant
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root surgically embedded into the jawbone where there is a tooth missing. The implant itself is a titanium post that closely resembles a screw. For complete restoration, a crown is placed on top of the implant to give you a permanent fixture that looks and operates like a natural tooth.
The combination of a dental implant paired with a crown provides patients suffering from tooth loss with a slip-free alternative to dentures. Dental implants also preserve existing teeth, restore the ability to chew, and prevent jawbone deterioration.
3. A Broken or Weakened Tooth
Facial trauma, hard foods, and excessive grinding or clenching can all cause tooth injury. A broken or needs proper protection or it is at risk for further complications. This is where a dental crown comes in. Our dentist will take impressions, have a dental crown created, and cement it into place for a healthy smile.
4. A Dental Bridge
Another solution for missing teeth is a dental bridge. Made up of a false tooth held in place by two dental crowns, a bridge literally “bridges” a gap left behind by a missing tooth. It also prevents existing teeth from drifting out of position and distributes the forces in your bite properly.
Our dentist will cement the two dental crowns used onto each of the abutment, or adjacent, teeth that support the bridge. The result is a seamless smile that no longer suffers from the difficulties that missing teeth bring.
Talk With Our Dentist Today
Dental crowns deliver renewed strength, shape, and appearance to vulnerable teeth. To determine if you need a crown placed, our dentist in Portage serving Greater Kalamazoo, MI, can conduct an oral examination. Call Courtside Dental today at (269) 327-1011 to request an appointment.
This blog has been updated.