Your teeth are strong. In fact, they are the strongest substance in your body. Despite being strong, however, they can still be faced with physical damage and decay that not only affects the appearance of the tooth but can compromise its strength and put it at risk for developing a serious infection. When your teeth are damaged, Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry can help with dental crowns.
What Is a Dental Crown?
Minor damage to your teeth, damage that only affects the enamel layer, often does not affect your oral health, and can typically be corrected with cosmetic treatment. However, ifthe damage is more significant, it can compromise the structural integrity of the affected tooth or put it at risk for infection.
A dental crown is a restoration designed to restore more significantly damaged teeth. It is a kind of cap that covers the entire visible surface of the damaged tooth, holding the tooth together, strengthening it, and protecting it from serious harm.
What Are Dental Crowns Made From?
Crowns can be made from one of several different materials, including:
- Metal—Metal crowns have been in use for decades. They are well-known for being incredibly strong and practically indestructible. They can last up to 50 years or more with proper care. However, despite their unmatched strength, metal crowns are not always desirable because they stand out so prominently from the rest of your teeth, being silver or gold in color.
- Porcelain fused to metal—PFM crowns have a metal base that surrounds the damaged tooth and a porcelain coating on top of it. The porcelain is there to provide a more natural appearance for the crown. However, a thin metal line can sometimes show through along the gum line, making it more obvious.
- Ceramic—A ceramic crown is one that is made entirely out of ceramic. These crowns are the most popular for aesthetic reasons. Ceramic mimics many of the properties of your natural teeth, particularly the color of the enamel and the way that it reflects light.
Why Get a Dental Crown?
There are several reasons why you should get a dental crown when faced with tooth damage.
- Protecting your teeth from further damage or decay.
- Preventing infections from developing.
- Providing strength.
- We help to avoid the need for a tooth extraction.
- Crowns also help to anchor bridges in place and cover the posts for dental implants, restoring the functions and aesthetics of your smile.
Getting Your Dental Crown
The process for getting a dental crown generally requires two separate appointments. During your first appointment, we prepare or trim, the tooth. This process removes enamel from the affected tooth, reducing It in size, making it possible for your crown to fit in naturally and comfortable with the rest of your teeth. The next step is taking an impression. Impressions are essential for the dental lab to design and create your custom crown. It can take up to two weeks before your crown is ready and you come back for a second appointment. At this appointment, we check the fit of your crown and make sure that your bite is unobstructed. If we do not need to make any adjustments, we bond the crown securely into place over your tooth.
If you have a damaged or decayed tooth, treatment is needed right away to restore your oral health and prevent serious issues. Call Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry today to schedule your consultation at Tulsa: (539) 302-3266 Claremore: (918) 343-4300 and find out if a dental crown is right for you.