Think about how many times per day you rely on your teeth. You use them to chew breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You press your tongue against them to make certain sounds when you speak. There's really no doubt about it — your teeth are important, and they deserve your respect. You can pay them that respect by visiting your dentist for regular cleaning and checkup appointments. You should also call at the first sign of dental pain, tooth discoloration, or other oral health changes. Read more about dentists and dentistry here on this blog, where we dive deep into related topics.
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A damaged tooth can also damage your self-esteem, especially if it shows when you smile. Fortunately, crowns are an option that can easily fix a variety of tooth damage issues.
Reasons to Consider a Crown
Crowns are the best option for fixing several types of tooth damages. Most obvious are those teeth that have cracked or been weakened by major dental work, such as a deep filling or a root canal. Once the tooth is sealed with a resin filling, the crown can both cover the damage and protect the repair from further damages.
Teeth can also become chipped in a manner that doesn't require major dental work but is unsightly. A crown can be crafted to cap the tooth so the chip isn't visible. Worn down teeth are another example that benefits from a crown. When the enamel wears thin, teeth can look uneven or yellowish. Worn teeth also tend to be overly sensitive to temperature changes. A crown solves all of these problems.
Crown Options
There are many options when it comes to crown materials. Most are made of porcelain or resin, which is dyed to match the natural color of your tooth. Some crowns have a metal framework. The porcelain or resin is fused to this frame in order to create an even stronger crown. This is useful for teeth that do a lot of heavy work, such as the molars that take on the bulk of the biting and grinding. The crown is also shaped so that it mimics the natural shape of your teeth, so it is indistinguishable from your natural teeth except to your dentist and hygienist.
When choosing the material, your dentist will consider the visibility of the tooth as well as the state of your mouth. A full crown is likely to be used on badly worn or damaged teeth or those in the most visible front location. A 3/4 crown will be used on teeth with minimal damages that are near the rear of your mouth, where they are less visible.
What to Expect
Most crowns require two visits. The first is when the dentist completes the main repair, such as the filling. They then put on a temporary crown. Your permanent crown must be made to order so that it matches your teeth specifically, so you will have a second visit to place the permanent crown.
Some dental offices are able to make permanent crowns in-house. If your dentist offers this service you may only need to schedule one visit for both the repair and the permanent crown placement.
Contact a dentist in your area if you have more questions regarding dental crowns.
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