Dental restorations come in many forms. Depending on your situation, your Uptown Phoenix dentist can restore your smile with a quick solution or a more in-depth procedure. If your smile needs additional support, your dentist can use dental crowns. Read on to learn more about dental crowns and when they are necessary:
What are Dental Crowns For?
Dental crowns are protected teeth caps. These teeth-shaped caps are placed over damaged teeth to restore their shape, overall look, strength, and size. They can be placed if you have a dental cavity that is big enough for a filling.
What to Expect from the Procedure
The dental crown procedure is something you should not be afraid of. It begins with an examination of the affected tooth and X-rays. Then, this tooth will be filed down with a part of its outer layer being removed. Your dentist will then make an impression of this tooth and the teeth that surround it. They will place a temporary crown until your permanent crown is available. When your crown is back from a dental laboratory, you will schedule another appointment to have it cemented onto your tooth.
Ideal Uses of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are often recommended for any of the following:
- You have a broken or weakened tooth. Hard foods, trauma to the face, and teeth grinding can harm your tooth. A weakened or broken tooth requires proper protection to avoid complications. Your dentist can address this dental issue with a dental crown.
- You need root canal therapy. Tooth infection or deep tooth decay can negatively impact the nerve and pulp of your teeth. Pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Damaged pulp or nerve tissue allows bacteria to spread inside the pulp chamber, causing an abscessed tooth or infection. Getting rid of the bacteria from your infected root canal is important to prevent reinfection. Your dentist will remove the infected pulp, clean the inside of your tooth, and seal it back up. To complete the tooth restoration, they can place a crown on top to strengthen the tooth and prevent it from breaking.
- You have a missing tooth and require a bridge. A dental bridge is placed to bridge the space created by a removed tooth. Also, it prevents your existing teeth from shifting towards the gap and distributes bite forces properly. Your dentist will cement crowns used onto every abutment or the teeth that support your bridge to restore your smile.
