A dental crown is going to be a cap that can be placed over your tooth. It is often done in order to restore the shape and size, as well as the strength of the tooth. This can be done to help improve the appearance of the tooth too, making your smile look better than before. The crown, when it is put into place, will be able to encase the whole visible part of the tooth, hiding all of the damage that may be put under it.
Why Do I Need a Dental Crown?
You and your dentist will need to determine when a dental crown is necessary. There are a number of situations where you may need to work with a dental crown to help protect your teeth. Some of the situations where a dental crown is going to be necessary includes:
- To help protect a tooth that is weak from breaking or to help when you need to hold together parts of a tooth that is cracked.
- To help restore a tooth that is already broken or one that has been worn down severely.
- To help when it is time to cover and support a tooth with a larger filling when there doesn’t happen to be a ton of tooth left in the first place.
- To help hold a dental bridge in place.
- To help cover up some teeth that are very discolored or misshapen.
- To help cover up a dental implant that is in place.
- To help make some cosmetic modifications in your teeth.
It is also possible that a child will need to get a dental crown put in place as well. This can be done by the dentist if they want to save a tooth that is so damaged through decay and other issues that it isn’t able to support a filling or to decrease the frequency of general anesthesia for children because of their age, medical history, or behavior. You will need to discuss with your dentist whether these make sense for you or for your child.
Are There Different Types of Crowns Available?
There are a few different types of crowns available for you to choose. A permanent crown can be made out of a number of materials such as stainless steel, porcelain, all-resin, metals, and more. You can also choose whether you would like to get a crown that is permanent or temporary.
Stainless steel crowns are going to be a popular option and they will be used on permanent teeth, usually as a temporary measure. The crown is going to provide protection while a more permanent crown is being made at the time. There are also some metals that are going to be used in crowns, such as gold or platinum, but these are often reserve for teeth that are placed further back in the mouth as they are harder to see.
Porcelain crowns are a good option because they can be changed in tint to match the rest of the teeth. You can get an all-porcelain option or one that is porcelain fused to metal. Both will look like normal teeth, so they are often used when you need to fix some of the teeth at the front of the mouth.
All-resin dental crowns are becoming more popular as well. They are going to be less expensive compared to some of the other types of crowns that you can choose. Keep in mind with these though that they are more likely to wear down and there can be issues with them fracturing compared to some of the other options as well.
How to Take Care of the Dental Crown?
Because a temporary crown is going to be one that is just in until the permanent crown is ready to go, most dentists are going to ask you to avoid a few things to help these crowns stay in place. Some of the things that you can do to make sure your temporary dental crown is kept safe at all times includes:
- Avoid foods that are sticky and chewy. This includes caramel and chewing gum. They have the potential to grab and pull the crown off.
- Minimize how much you use the side of the mouth with a temporary crown. Move most of your chewing to the other side for now.
- Avoid eating foods that are too hard as they can break the crown if you are not careful.
- Slide, rather than lift, the dental floss you use while cleaning during this time.
What are Common Problems with Dental Crowns?
For the most part, you will be able to put in a dental crown and won’t run into any issues. The dentist will give you some precautions when it comes to your temporary crowns and you will find that the traditional crowns will look and feel close to your regular teeth. There are a few issues that can happen with the crowns and you will need to talk to your dentist about them.
For example, a new crown will sometimes be uncomfortable and sensitive. This is normal in the beginning, but it will not go away or you notice that it happens when you bite down on something, this means that the crown is too high up and your dentist will need to fix it for you.
Other problems that can come with your crowns include that one gets chipped, the crown is loose and moves around, the crown falls off, you see a dark line on the tooth with the crown near the gum line, or you have an allergic reaction. When any of these do happen to your own teeth, it is a good idea to talk to your dentist and see what they can do to help.
When you are ready to take good care of your teeth, it is important to find a dentist who will take care of you and ensure that your teeth are in the best shape possible. There are many great dentists in the area, but our team at Northstar Dental Care is here to help. We have the experience that you need to rest assured your teeth will look and feel their very best, no matter how long it has been since your last appointment. Trust us to help give your teeth the very best.