Have Damaged Teeth: Protect Them Appropriately With Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are merely tooth caps created for placement over damaged teeth. Crowns can protect, cover, and restore the shape of broken teeth when fillings are incapable of solving the problem. Dental crowns are created from metals, resin, porcelain, and ceramics. If you decide to have them over your damaged teeth, crowns require no specialized attention other than proper oral hygiene.

Why Were Dental Crowns Created?

Teeth sustain damages over time for various reasons. Tooth decay, injuries, or regular use over time can damage teeth. Your teeth lose their shape or size because of these reasons. Tooth-shaped caps called dental crowns are suitable placements over your teeth to protect them from further damage. They fit snugly like a hat or your tooth, restoring your tooth’s shape, strength, size, and appearance. The tooth cap is bonded into place on your tooth to cover the visible portion, which is the crown.

When Would You Need Dental Crowns?

You may need dental crowns for various reasons, including:

• You need to protect a weak tooth from decay from breaking or to keep the tooth together if cracks are already visible.
• A dental crown can restore a broken tooth or a severely worn down tooth.
  You can cover and support a tooth with extensive fillings without significant tooth structure remaining.
• Crowns are helpful to cover misshapen or severely discolored teeth.
• You can use a crown to cover a dental implant or hold a dental bridge in place.
• Covering a tooth that underwent root canal therapy is essential and can be accomplished with a dental crown.

How To Decide On The Type of Crown You Want To Have?

It will be challenging for you to decide on the best dental crowns for restoring your teeth without initially consulting a dentist specializing in crowns. The dentist must evaluate the teeth that need crowns to determine whether you can have metal crowns that rarely chip or break and last longer in terms of wear down.

If you need dental crowns on front teeth, the dentist recommends tooth-colored porcelain crowns and are suitable choices for both front and back teeth. However, deciding for yourself will be challenging, making it essential to contact a dentist to have custom-designed crowns on your teeth.

How Involved Is a Dental Crown Procedure?

The dental crown procedure requires at least two visits to the dentist’s office unless you have chosen to have the same-day crown. During your first visit, your dentist examines and prepares the tooth needing the crown. X-rays of your teeth are taken besides molds of your teeth and mouth beforehand.

Your dentist files down the outer layer of your tooth to remove part of the enamel. The removal is to ensure proper fitting of the crown. The dentist takes impressions of your trimmed tooth and the dental laboratory’s surrounding teeth to customize your dental crown. The creation of the dental crown by lab technicians requires several weeks. The prepared tooth would have weakened further after filing down. Your dentist places a temporary crown over it for protection until your permanent restoration is ready.

When the dental laboratory returns your permanent custom-designed crown, you must return to the dentist’s office for a second visit. During the second appointment, your dentist near Beverly Hills removes the temporary crown and checks the permanent restoration for fit and color. Your teeth are cleaned to remove any debris on them before the permanent restoration is bonded to your tooth. You can leave the dentist’s office soon after your new permanent crown placement.

Caring For Your Dental Crown

Your dental crown needs care, just like your natural teeth. Paying careful attention to your restoration helps to prolong its life. You must follow the tips mentioned below for help:

• If you are not already brushing your teeth twice daily, it is time for you to begin right away. Start using toothpaste for sensitive teeth if your crown or the surrounding teeth are sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.
• Your teeth can remain in excellent condition if you begin flossing daily without exceptions.
• Your dental crown can crack if you have habitually chewed ice or have hard foods making porcelain crowns vulnerable to this problem.
• If you clench or grind your teeth when sleeping, your dentist may recommend night guards to protect your crown and the surrounding teeth.

After restoring your tooth with a dental crown, it makes sense for you to care for it appropriately, considering the substantial sum you spend on restoring your appearance and smile.