What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are a term in dentistry that is familiar to most patients although some refer to them as caps. In dentistry, the term crown is used in a couple of ways. Each tooth’s crown refers to the part of the tooth that sticks out from the gums and bone.
In terms of tooth restoration, dental crowns are a shield of sorts for your teeth. An artificial crown that completely covers a tooth to protect it from further damage. They are often used to protect a weakened tooth after a root canal or to cover a cracked tooth. In the case of missing teeth, a crown is used to cover the dental implant and act as a new tooth.
Why Are They Needed?
Enamel is a very tough substance and it can withstand a lot of things—but it is not indestructible. It can erode due to bad genetics, dental trauma, or poor oral hygiene. If erosion is left untreated it can wear down so deep that it exposes sensitive nerve endings causing severe pain. This erosion also leaves the tooth vulnerable to decay, cracking, chipping, or other conditions.
There are various reasons why enamel gets worn down on teeth making dental crowns necessary such as:
- Large Cavities
- Severe Bruxism
- Cracked Teeth
- Root Canals
Procedure Overview
The first step when getting a crown placed involves shaving some of the enamel down to expose healthy tooth material. This step ensures the crown fits flush and does not cause any alignment or bite issues.
Keep in mind, that without this layer of protective enamel sensitive areas will be exposed. This may cause some discomfort to hot and cold substances that will require numbing gel. However, if you’ve had a root canal, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Then, a temporary crown is placed to protect and insulate the tooth until your permanent crown is completed in the lab. Your final visit will be to bond the permanent crown to your tooth with special adhesive—then you’re good as new!
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