A dental crown is a cap placed over a tooth to restore its shape, size, strength and appearance. Repairing a damaged tooth with a dental crown takes place every day in dentist offices across the country. Here are the most common reasons you might need a crown:
A large cavity or fracture/older fillings - Large cavities or fractures will weaken the remaining tooth and leave it prone to further damage. A large filling that has been in place for a long time may cause stress that could lead to cracks. To save these teeth, your dentist may recommend a crown.
Damaged cusps - The cusp is the part of the tooth that bears most of the pressure when you chew, and it can break due to trauma or an existing filling. When a cusp is broken, a dental crown is needed to prevent future fracturing; if the cusp causes the entire tooth to break all the way to the bone, your dentist will shave away the damaged area and cover the existing, stronger tooth structure with a longer crown.
Excessive stress on the teeth - Have you heard of people who grind their teeth during sleep? Unfortunately, this can result in slowly wearing down the teeth and adversely affecting their strength. Teeth also can erode from gastrointestinal acid reflux, bulimia or an overly acidic diet. To prevent complete destruction of these teeth, they can be covered with a crown.
A dental crown procedure requires two visits. During the first visit, the dentist will prepare the affected tooth and apply a temporary crown. At the second visit, he/she will secure the permanent crown. This will leave your teeth stronger and healthier. To see if you need a dental crown, request an appointment at Southfield Family Dental Center today!
