A dental crown is a cap made to cover and restore a damaged tooth. Dentists use this type of tooth restoration to improve the tooth’s aesthetics while preserving it from further damage. The crown fully encases the tooth once the dentist cements it permanently. In effect, bacteria can no longer penetrate and the tooth is saved.
A few of the culprits of teeth damage are sports and bruxism.
It’s inevitable that some sports players, especially those that involve physical activity, experience tooth fractures. Even when using protective gear like mouthguards, dental trauma is prevalent. That’s why it’s important for players to regularly visit their dentist to get proper advice on how to care for their dental health.
On the other hand, sleep bruxism is a condition where a patient is grinding teeth or clenching jaw while sleeping. Since they are mostly unaware of this occurrence, it leads to broken teeth and some jaw problems.
Considering this, what instances need a patient to have a tooth cap?
When are dental crowns necessary?
A crown is used in various dental case scenarios to fully restore the tooth’s appearance and function. It’s important for patients to know when their dental concern needs a tooth crown procedure.
Cracked or fractured tooth
A tooth with a deep crack or fracture needs a dental crown. A patient with cracked tooth syndrome may experience occasional pain when chewing. This happens when food debris gets stuck in the cracks.
Similarly, a cracked tooth is responsible for the sensitivity the patient experiences to hot and cold temperatures. Since the crack is not visible, the dentist needs to take a dental X-ray in order to determine the damage. He needs to crown the tooth to prevent it from breaking which could lead to further dental pain and tooth removal.
A permanent crown relieves the pain and distributes the chewing force evenly. Furthermore, it holds the tooth together and prevents the cracks from growing.
Decayed teeth due to cavity
A dental cavity causes the tooth structure to weaken, hence, a crown is necessary to preserve and strengthen it. Pediatric dentists make use of a dental crown to protect children’s primary tooth from further damage. Since children are prone to oral cavities, temporary caps are very ideal to keep cavities at bay. Once those primary teeth come off, the temporary crown also comes out naturally.
Meanwhile, dentists also recommend crowns to adults whose permanent teeth are weakened due to cavities. In order to save the tooth, a portion filled with cavity is removed. When the cavity is large enough for a filling, a tooth crown procedure is performed for full restoration.
A cavity in the tooth pulp
There are cases when the tooth infection has reached inside the tooth canals or the pulp. In most cases, the patient thinks of having the tooth extracted. However, the dentist recommends a root canal therapy to remove the decay inside the pulp.
He needs to anesthetize the patient before accessing its tooth pulp to remove the bacteria and disinfect the canals. Then, the infected nerves and cells are taken out, cleaned. The procedure creates a hollow on the tooth that’s too large, hence a crown is needed to cover it. Endodontists who specialize in performing a root canal treatment use a dental crown to complete the restoration.
Dental bridges and implants
Dental implants are metal posts inserted to the patient’s jawbone to replace missing teeth. The metal post acts as a tooth root and protrudes from the gums, hence, it needs a dental cap.
Meanwhile, a tooth bridge needs the help of a crown to completely link the gap of a lost tooth. The remaining tooth structure on either side needs a dental cap to act as a bridge and hold the artificial one in place.
Cosmetic solution
Other than the fact that a tooth crown restores a tooth’s function, it also remedies a tooth’s look. Some patients consult their doctors to make their teeth appear more natural and pleasant. Since some teeth are naturally small or crooked-looking due to genetics, a tooth cap can easily cover such flaws.
There are numerous ways to beautify a patient’s smile and one of that is by attaching a crown. That’s one reason why a full porcelain crown is available to also achieve aesthetics for this procedure.
Indeed, a tooth crown procedure is needed to fully restore its functions or complete a restorative treatment. If you show symptoms of a weakened tooth, have it fixed with an Oshawa dentist.
