A dental crown is another option that you have to restore your teeth. They are tooth colored caps that replace the top part of the tooth, all the way to the gum line.
Dental crowns are custom made for each person. They look and feel just like a natural tooth.
What Are the Most Common Reasons for Needing a Dental Crown?
There are a number of situations where a crown is the best restoration option for a tooth.
Cracked Tooth
Cracks in your teeth come in varying degrees of severity
- The least serious is called a craze line. These are very common in adults and only affect the outer surface of the tooth. They don’t require treatment.
- Cracks that have not yet extended down to the root are usually treated with a crown. But if the crack has gone down into the root, you may have to get a root canal first.
- If a crack starts at the bottom of the root, the tooth often can’t be saved. An extraction and implant will be your best option.
Old Fillings
Sometimes when you have a very old filling on a tooth, part of the tooth may break off and often a crown is the best way to fix it.
If you have a large old filling and there are cracks around the filling, a dental crown is going to be a much better fix than replacing the filling because there is not enough tooth around the old filling and it would likely fracture.
Excessive Wear
If you are someone who grinds your teeth, over time you are likely to cause cracks in your teeth.
Grinding also causes problems in your bite. You may need a crown to restore it to normal functioning.
That is why it is so important to treat teeth grinding. If you catch the grinding damage early, you can prevent all that wear and tear on your teeth.
Ideally, you want to avoid the need for multiple crowns, other restorations or orthodontic treatments.
Included as Part of a Dental Implant
You may think that a dental implant is the visible replacement tooth. However, it is the post below the gum line that is the actual implant. A crown covers the implant post.
Crown or Veneer?
In many cases, a veneer would be the restoration of choice for the more visible teeth in a patient who is looking for a smile improvement or re-design.
Since a veneer only offers only partial coverage of the tooth, it is not as strong as a crown. If a patient grinds their teeth or there is decay or other bite issues, a crown may be a much more durable solution.
How Will I Know if I Really Need a Dental Crown?
At Dentistry of Colorado we know that the decision to get a crown can a difficult one, primarily because the cost difference between a filling and a crown can be significant.
Our approach is totally about patient education so that we can help you make the best decision for your mouth.
We have found that a great way to help our patients really see what is going on is through digital photos.
We take digital photos of your mouth and will describe to you in detail what we see.
A picture is truly worth a thousand words when it comes to you understanding what is happening with your mouth.
We will also discuss with you other options, including what the implications are of waiting.
Schedule Your Appointment Now
We are very preventative in our approach and believe that catching issues in your mouth when they are less serious is important.
But when you do find yourself with a cracked tooth, heavy wear and tear on your teeth or a huge old cavity that needs help, we offer a complete range of restorations (fillings, crowns, bridges and implants)
While we are comprehensive in our diagnosis and treatment, we are also committed to never recommend unnecessary treatment to our patients.
Contact Us Today for the dental health you deserve!