What Are Dental Crowns?

There are times in which a tooth is damaged or decayed to the point where the entire crown is compromised. When this happens, a dentist will do everything they can to save as much of the natural tooth as possible. This may involve the placement of certain repair prosthetics—one popular option being dental crowns.

Dental crowns are dental restorations that replace the entire crown of a damaged or decayed tooth. These crowns can be made with a variety of different materials, with porcelain being a popular option. Crowns can also be used to hold the pontic in place when a dental bridge is placed—serving as the abutments.

Crowns Versus Veneers

While both dental veneers and dental crowns are used for the repair of damaged teeth, they are different. Dental veneers cover a portion of the crown, but do not replace the entire crown. This makes them a good option for teeth that have been moderately damaged, but not severely damaged. For teeth that have sustained more severe damage, a crown will need to be placed. Dental crowns are often an option when enough of a tooth is still healthy, but the crown is damaged. If the root is also damaged, an extraction may be the only option.

Why You’ll Want to Consider a Crown

There are a variety of different reasons why a dental crown may be an excellent option for the repair of your damaged tooth. The first reason is the cosmetic appearance of your tooth. Having a severely damaged tooth can really affect the way your smile looks—leading to you smiling less often. A crown completes your smile—allowing you to smile again with pride.

Beyond cosmetic reasons, crowns are also practical. Patients that have a severely damaged tooth may experience pain and pressure—especially while biting and chewing. A crown can help to restore strength to the tooth, allowing patients to continue to bite and chew much like they did before the tooth was damaged.

Finally, crowns are used as abutments for dental bridges, which can help to ensure proper oral health, and can prevent teeth migration.

Speak with Your Dentist

If your tooth is damaged, there may be a few different options for repair. That is why it’s important to set an appointment with a dentist as soon as you experience any pain, pressure or discomfort in a tooth. If you see any visible damage, it is definitely the right time for an appointment with your dentist. Once your dentist surveys the damage, they can suggest various repair options which may include a filling, dental bonding, dental veneer, crown or—worst case scenario—an extraction. The sooner you visit a dentist after a tooth is damaged, the better chance your dentist has of saving the tooth.

Set an appointment with your dentist if you have a damaged tooth that needs to be repaired as soon as possible.

Renaissance Dental Center in Raleigh, NC offers a variety of different cosmetic and restorative dental services including dental crowns. Call to schedule your consult or service today.

Interested in reading more about dental crowns? Here's some more information on what the procedure is for getting dental crowns.