Everything You Should Know Dental Crowns
Dentistry is a multi-faceted field that covers many areas of oral health. Ultimately, anything you can do to improve the health of your mouth and body is worth trying. Thankfully, modern dentistry ensures that everyone has a pliable alternative to solve their oral needs. This is where dental appliances like oral crowns play a significant role.
What is a Dental Crown?
It is a porcelain tooth-shaped material that is used to cup a tooth for its protection. Oral crowns are manufactured in a laboratory, with impressions taken from a patient’s tooth. The porcelain crowns can be color-matched to the natural color of your teeth for aesthetic appearance. However, the primary function of oral crowns is not cosmetic advancement. Instead, crowns are used to restore the strength, structure, and function of teeth. It is why they are very reliable for restorative procedures.
When Are Oral Crowns Used?
Crowns have been used on multiple occasions at Anding Family Dental, to meet different patient needs. The best part about them is that they are versatile. Some of the areas where crowns are used in dental works include:
- For tooth decay – a decayed tooth often has a compromised enamel. This means that the shape, color and even structure of the enamel is too damaged to survive on its own. A tooth crown is placed on such a tooth to reinforce strength and cover-up all other flaws.
- For broken teeth – people come to Omaha, NE with different cases of broken teeth. A broken tooth does not just pose a cosmetic problem. It makes the entire tooth structure weak and prone to further breakage. An oral crown is put over it to increase its strength and hold the tooth in place.
- For missing teeth – it is not obvious to consider porcelain crowns as solutions to missing teeth. However, crowns are a crucial part of making dental bridges, which replace missing teeth.
- To crown an implant – a dental implant requires a cover over it to make it functional and allow it to blend well with other teeth. A dental cup is placed over an implant for this reason.
- For cosmetic reasons – much as oral crowns are used for restorative dental works, they can also be used for cosmetic purposes. They can be used to cover up different flaws of teeth, ranging from irregular shapes and discoloration, to chipping and cracking, to mention a few.
What Is the Process of Getting Teeth Crowns?
The procedure of getting a tooth crown is not a complex one. In just a few steps, you should have your crown ready. However, the full installation will require more than one dental visit. This is because the tooth cups have to be manufactured in a laboratory for proper fitting. The steps to expect include:
- Local anesthesia – it is important to numb your mouth to ensure you are comfortable through the process.
- Cleaning – it is an essential step especially when tooth decay is the cause for your treatment. It helps get rid of all bacteria and infections in your mouth.
- Removal of enamel – part of your tooth’s enamel is scraped off. This reshaping process is important because the crown needs room to attach to your natural tooth.
- Taking impressions – they will allow your dentist to come up with perfectly fitted crowns unique to the nature of your tooth.
- Installation – your oral crowns will take up to 2 weeks to be readied. Once they are done, your second visit will concern installation. The process involves using special dental cement to bond the crown to the natural tooth. Any excess cement is removed before it dries off.
How Long Do Oral Crowns Last?
Oral crowns have a solid build. Having that they are attached to the tooth directly, this also gives them more stability. They can withstand a lot of tension even for back teeth. With proper care, crowns can serve you between 5-15 years. This period can be longer with proper oral care. However, the type of material you choose for your crowns differs in duration. For example, a gold crown can last much longer than a composite crown.