What you thought would be a routine trip to the dentist turned out to be something more complicated. A crown? Wouldn’t a filling simply do the trick? And trying to fit two extra appointments into your work schedule seems harder than finding a parking space at the Kohl Center. It can leave you wondering, are tooth crowns really necessary? Read on to learn more about why you got booked for those twin appointments.
A crown is placed for a number of reasons:
- To support a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth structure remaining
- To protect weak teeth from fracturing or a fractured tooth from breaking further
- To cover badly shaped or discolored teeth
A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that covers the tooth in order to restore the tooth to its normal shape and size. Its purpose is to strengthen the tooth and its appearance. It’s a reliable technique for repairing the most severe of dental problems, including missing teeth, and provides the patient with a full smile and ideal bite. Crowns are also extremely durable, often lasting for as long as twenty to thirty years.
Crowns support a large filling when there isn’t enough structure remaining in the tooth.
Very large fillings or old fillings can compromise the integrity of the tooth. Large fillings, especially if they come in contact with three surfaces of the tooth, can decrease tooth strength by up to sixty percent. Old fillings similarly weaken teeth via decay. Old fillings can chip, crack, or fall out, allowing bacteria to leach into the tooth, causing decay. Crowns correct these issues by covering the entire area, sealing off potential entry ways for bacteria, and strengthening the tooth.
Crowns protect weak teeth from fracturing or a fractured tooth from breaking further.
Weak or cracked teeth can be detected by sharp pain when chewing or when the teeth are exposed to heat or cold. If not treated, these teeth can fracture further with normal use. In these instances, crowns are placed to prevent further damage and more serious problems.
Crowns can be used to cover badly shaped or discolored teeth.
Cosmetic dental crowns are placed over malformed or discolored teeth in order to restore the tooth to its normal shape and size. These crowns are made in numerous materials. Your dentist will consider both the look and function of your crowns when choosing which materials are most suitable for you, keeping in mind the tooth location, the position of the gum tissue, the amount of tooth that shows when you smile, the color or shade of the tooth and the function of the tooth.
Gold alloys or non-precious alloys, porcelain or ceramic, acrylic or composite resin or combinations of these materials may be used. Porcelain attached to a durable metal shell is commonly used because of its strength. Crowns made entirely of porcelain, though having a better appearance, usually aren’t as strong. In the process of making the crown, the porcelain is colored to blend in with your natural teeth.
If we can help you assess whether tooth crowns are really necessary for your situation, please contact us at the number below. Affiliated Dentists offers general dentistry in Madison, Wisconsin.
