A dental crown is an encasement that covers a tooth. Crowns can be made from many different materials, such as porcelain, porcelain-over-metal, metal alloy, stainless steel or gold. One of the benefits of having a crown installed is the beautification of the tooth. Regardless of the appearance of a damaged tooth, a dental crown can be used to restore its beauty. Here are additional reasons dental crowns are used:
Stabilization of Tooth-replacement Devices
Some tooth-replacement devices, such as a fixed dental bridges, require the use of crowns to secure them into place. A dental bridge includes false teeth in the center of the appliance, but a dental crown lies on each end of the device.
The dental crowns are placed over the two teeth that border the gap left by one or more missing teeth to secure the dental bridge into place. The crowns are glued to the underlying teeth. Thus, the dental bridge is properly secured in the mouth of the patient by the crown's connection to the patient's remaining teeth.
Chewing Ability
When a patient has certain dental appliances installed, such as dental implants, dental crowns are needed to restore the chewing ability of the patient. A dental implant replaces the root, but the crown replaces the natural crown of the missing tooth.
Structural Reinforcement
A tooth that has been damaged may incur a chip or a crack. A crown can be used to cover the compromised tooth and reinforce its integrity. Without the placement of the dental crown, the damage to the tooth may worsen over time. If the damage becomes severe enough, such as a crack through the root of a tooth, the tooth is not salvageable and will require extraction.
Protection from Further Decay
A deep cavity may be properly filled by a dentist, but a dental crown may be needed to cover the tooth after it has been filled. The covering helps protect the tooth from further decay as it restores the appearance and chewing ability of the tooth.
Covering a Root Canal
A dental crown is also used to cover a tooth that has been restored by a root canal. After the pulp of the tooth has been removed and the tooth has been properly disinfected and filled, the dental crown is installed.
To learn more about dental crowns and how they can benefit you, schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist in your area.
Share20 April 2016
If you are someone who hesitates to open your mouth when you smile because you are embarrassed about your teeth, you should know that there are a number of cosmetic techniques that can give you a beautiful smile you will be proud to show to the world. As a cosmetic dentist, I have seen many clients transform their lives simply by fixing their smiles. This blog is meant to encourage people to find out about the possibilities in cosmetic dentistry so they can feel good about their smiles. A beautiful, confident smile really can change your life. I would love to show you how.
