Dental crowns in Winter Park are one of the most common dental procedures. They support weak teeth that have undergone root canal therapy, improve their appearance, and can even contribute to improving their functionality.
However, what exactly is a dental crown, and what can you anticipate from the procedure? To find out if you qualify for a crown, here's all you need to know about them and what they’re used for.
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a cap placed over a tooth to protect it or cover any appearance issues.
This tooth-shaped cover is commonly used to strengthen a tooth after a root canal, to cover misshapen, damaged, or discolored teeth, or over an artificial tooth root known as an implant. In most cases, crowns provide a long-term way to return teeth to their normal size or shape.
Reasons for a Dental Crown
Your dentist may advise a dental crown for several reasons, such as:
- To support and cover a tooth
- To protect a weakened tooth
- To safeguard the repaired tooth after a root canal treatment
- To close the space left by a missing tooth
- To make a discolored or malformed tooth look better
- To cover a dental implant
- To secure a dental bridge
- If a cavity erodes more than half of the tooth, a dental crown is often necessary. That way, it helps replace the missing tooth structure and is more resistant to fracturing than a common filling.
After receiving root canal therapy, crowns are frequently placed on molars to make sure the restoration is strong enough to withstand the forces exerted during chewing. In a root canal, the tooth's pulp and nerve are extracted, and the interior is sealed and cleansed.
However, this can leave a tooth more brittle and unable to withstand chewing force on its own—especially if the tooth is a molar. The antibacterial solution used to clean the root can also contribute to this.
Additionally, dental crowns improve your teeth's overall appearance. Crowns on front teeth can achieve improved smile aesthetics. A dental lab technician can create these crowns on demand to improve someone's smile or precisely match their current teeth.
On primary (baby) teeth in children, crowns can be used:
- To preserve a tooth that suffered severe decay, to the point that a filling isn’t enough to restore it.
- If the kid struggles to maintain good oral hygiene on a daily basis and needs added protection for their teeth.
- To reduce the number of times children are put under general anesthesia if their age, behavior, or medical history prevents them from cooperating fully with the requirements of receiving proper dental care.
Get Dental Crowns in Winter Park
As you can see, dental crowns are a viable solution for various issues, no matter your age. Be it for cosmetic or functional issues, they can help preserve a natural tooth for several years to come, providing aid during common chewing options.
If you’re interested in learning more, give us a call!