Dentists work to keep patients' teeth clean and healthy. Dental crowns are an important tool that dentists sometimes use when treating patients. Learning more about dental crowns can help patients feel comfortable about undergoing a dental crown placement procedure. These four facts about dental crowns will help you become better informed:
1. A dental crown can be used to protect a tooth that has undergone restorative treatment.
Dental crowns are often used to protect teeth after extensive restorative treatments. For example, dental fillings are typically placed in patients' teeth after decayed tooth enamel has been removed. Sometimes dental fillings are large enough to render the underline tooth unstable. In these instances, dental crowns can be applied to provide teeth with additional stability and support. Dental crowns can also be used to protect teeth that have undergone root canal therapy.
2. A dental crown can be made to perfectly match your teeth.
Dental crowns can be made from metal or ceramics. Sometimes, a combination of both these materials is used to provide the desired shape, color, and texture. Dental crowns can be constructed to blend in with the rest of your teeth. This can be especially important to people who need dental crowns applied to their highly visible front teeth.
3. A dental crown can be used to cover a dental implant.
Dental crowns also have important applications in the field of implant dentistry. Dental implants are often used to replace teeth after tooth loss. A titanium implant is placed in a patient's jawbone, where it will serve as an artificial tooth root. The dental implant is then covered with an abutment, which can then be used to secure a dental crown. Dental crowns are often used as prosthetic teeth, fulfilling all the functions of a person's lost natural teeth.
4. Partial dental crowns are available for patients who need them.
During the dental crown procedure, a dentist first shapes a patient's tooth, shaving it down in order to accommodate a dental crown. This procedure is safe and effective. However, it does result in a permanent loss of tooth enamel. People with severe damage to only part of their tooth may prefer to take advantage of a partial dental crown instead. Partial dental crowns are sometimes called overlays or 3/4 crowns. These dental crowns can be used to protect vulnerable areas on a patient's tooth without compromising more healthy enamel than necessary.
Share