Reasons Your Dentist May Recommend a Dental Crown
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is somehow like a tooth prosthetic. It is a cap placed over your tooth and is shaped just like your tooth. After the cap is put in place, it is carefully cemented onto the tooth, covering the entire tooth surface that is visible above the gum line. There are other variations of crowns, where instead of it covering the entire tooth, it just offers partial cover. These are known as onlays and ¾ crowns. During your consultation, your dentist may suggest which type of crown is the most suitable. However, the reason behind getting the crown will, in most cases, dictate which dental crown variation is most appropriate.
Reasons for Getting a Dental Crown
Some of the reasons for getting tooth crown in Etobicoke, Ontario include:
- To strengthen a tooth after a root canal treatment. During a root canal, the entire tooth pulp needs to be removed. And while this prevents complete extraction of the tooth, it can significantly weaken the affected tooth, making it susceptible to chips and cracks when exposed to the pressure of chewing. Therefore, to offer additional strength and support, a tooth cap can be placed after a canal treatment.
- To support tooth fillings used to control cavities. Teeth attacked that are severely attacked by cavities are usually very weak and at risk of infections and decay. And although fillings do help control cavities, they do little to restore their strength. To prevent shattering at the point where the tooth tissue and filling meet, a crown completely covers the tooth and helps distribute pressure evenly to avoid additional damage to the tooth.
- When a tooth is cracked or broken but still good enough to be left intact. A crack could be a result of trauma, decay, or extreme pressure. This kind of damage weakens the tooth and with time, can be severe, leading to complete extraction. However, when a crown is placed offer such a tooth soon enough, it can be saved.
- When your tooth’s surface is severely worn out, that is, demineralization is happening much faster than remineralization, a dental crown treatment may be needed to help protect the affected tooth.
- To address cosmetic concerns such as stained, uneven, and chipped teeth. If you are really conscious about the appearance of your teeth and smile, we offer cosmetic dentistry in Etobicoke, where we can adjust the crowns to a tone, shape, and size that you are comfortable with.
Types of Dental Crowns
Once you visit our Etobicoke dentist office, you will learn that there are different types of crowns you can choose from. They are differentiated by the materials used to make them. Your options include:
- Stainless Steel – These are often used as a temporary measure to protect primary teeth or a permanent tooth while a permanent crown is being constructed from another material. The good thing with a stainless steel crown is that they easy to put on. And in the case of primary teeth, they come out with the tooth. Thus there is no need for a dental appointment to have them out.
- Porcelain Crowns – These are most preferred because of their similar characteristics to the natural tooth. The color can be adjusted to match that of your teeth, and their feel is almost natural.
- Metals– Common metals used are gold, platinum, and alloys like cobalt-chromium and nickel-chromium. These are good in the sense that they can resist biting and chewing forces over a long time, but the downside is that some patients may be allergic to them. Also, some metals like gold can be quite costly.
Other types of dental crowns include al resin and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. Each type of crown bears its own pros and cons, which is why you need a skilled dentist to help you understand what is in for you, in every choice. For those too busy to make an appointment on weekdays, our dentist remains open on Saturday to address all your dental concerns.
