Repairing your damaged teeth is the first priority and the immediate consideration
after that is whether to have a filling or go for a dental crown.
You should be able to get a discount for your dental crown work through someone
like CarefreeDental.com and many people have benefited from having a crown fitted
to keep their teeth in great shape and protected after the repair work has been completed.
Dental Crowns Explained
A crown serves several functions and is basically a method of restoration that covers
the original tooth in order to restore it to its normal shape and size before it was damaged.
A dental crown can also strengthen and improve the appearance of your teeth when fitted
and a crown is often considered to be a necessity when a tooth has broken down to the
extent that a conventional filling is unlikely to be sufficient.
If you are suffering from a cracked tooth, a dental crown will work to hold the tooth
together and seal the crack in order to ensure that the existing damage is not given the
opportunity to worsen.
Dental crowns are also utilized as a method for restoring a tooth when not enough
of the original remains to be able to support a large filling or to be able to attach a bridge.
Preparing for a Crown
If you have a filling the dentist can often drill and fill in the same appointment but
there is some preparatory work needed to prepare your tooth for a dental crown.
Your dentist will normally reduce the tooth so that it is ready to receive the crown
covering and then an impression of your teeth and gums is made so that it can be
sent to the lab who will making the crown.
Your dentist will arrange to fit a temporary crown as a short-term measure while
you are waiting for the permanent crown to be made, so having a crown fitted
will involve two visits, one for the initial preparatory work and temporary crown
and then the follow-up appointment when your permanent dental crown can be
fitted and fixed using a special cement.
Different to Veneers
You may have been offered the option of dental veneers at some point and this
form of cosmetic dentistry treatment can correct a number of different problems,
but there is a difference between veneers and crowns.
Veneers can be used to deal with a multitude of issues such as discoloration or
problems such as overlapping or crooked teeth but if you have a tooth that has
suffered a significant loss of structure or have lost a tooth altogether, a dental
crown would be the more viable option.
If you are offered a dental cap instead of a dental crown, this is just another
term for the treatment and there is no difference between a cap and a crown.
Natural Look
One thing that many patients almost universally want to achieve is natural
looking teeth after their work has been completed.
Your dentist will always strive to create a crown which is very hard to
distinguish from a natural tooth alongside it in your mouth.
A natural-looking color for your crown is just one of the aspects that goes
into making it look just like one of your original teeth.
The bite, length and shape of your natural teeth also have to be taken into
consideration, which is why your dentist will take an impression and create
a crown that compliments your existing look.
Looking After Your Crown
With the right level of care there is every reason to expect your crown to last
for a good number of years.
If you have some habits like grinding your teeth or maybe chewing your nails,
this can have a detrimental impact on the life of your dental crowns, so bear
this in mind and talk to your dentist if you have any concerns.
Sensible precautions for protecting your crown include being cautious when
chewing hard food objects such as ice and make sure that you keep up your
regular brush and flossing habits so that you treat your crown in just the
same way as you would the rest of your teeth.
You might also want to invest in some interdental cleaners which will help
you to keep your crowns free from debris and plaque, which could form
in the crown are where your gum meets the tooth.
Your smile and healthy teeth are an investment and crowns are a great
way of repairing damaged teeth and keeping everything looking and
feeling good in your mouth.
About the Author
Jack Chamberlain is in his first year studying dentistry. Keen to learn more all the time he blogs on the topic of teeth for health blogs.
Do you have or are you considering dental crowns or veneers?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.
There’s certainly a great deal to find out about this subject.
I really like all the points you made.
Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon on a daily basis.
It’s always useful to read through content from other authors and practice a little
something from their websites.
That is very interesting, You’re an overly skilled blogger.
I’ve joined your feed and look ahead to searching for more of your magnificent post.
Additionally, I’ve shared your website in my social networks
Thanks for posting! It was interesting to read and I gained a lot of information which can enhance my knowledge on veneers. Teeth play a significant role in enhancing your personality and appeal.
At http://www.macquarieparkdentistry.com.au/dental-veneers/, we ensure you the best treatment on dental health or treatment.
Hi Jessica,
You are so right. I went through months of extensive dental work to restore damaged teeth. It makes such a difference.
You have made a good point in restoring damaged teeth. I find the information presented greatly helpful, hence I will eventually be sharing this. Keep it coming!
My dentist told me that my wife needs to have a dental crown put in. Since it will be pretty expensive, I’m just trying to make sure that a crown is absolutely necessary in her situation. It sounds like these are necessary when the tooth has been broken down, and a conventional filling is unlikely to be sufficient. I can see how this would be important so thanks for sharing this.
If I have problems again with my far back molar, I will need a crown. I am holding out hope that my fillings will stay good for as long as possible. But I am at least comforted knowing that crowns last for quite awhile if taken care of and are made to match your teeth as close as possible. Thanks for sharing!
I didn’t know that crowns were customized for each person. My brother told me about getting a temporary crown put in and I wondered why they wouldn’t just do the regular one first. I guess it takes a lot of work to get a crown just right so it can be permanent. Thanks for informing me!
Clowns are really nice. They look super white and can make your smile great again. I id not know that you had to clean them the same a regular tooth, that is really convenient.
I like that dental crowns can be made to look natural. I don’t think anyone really wants something put into their mouth that doesn’t look right. I like that crowns can help the individual without looking like they had work done!
Some habits are not just bad, but they are also damaging to your teeth like you mentioned. A crown is an investment so if possible, stopping the bad habits such as biting your nails would be a good way to keep that investment. Keeping friends around after getting a crown would be good as they can help remind you to not indulge in your bad habits.