Why Getting Crowns Is a Smart Choice for Your Dental Health
Posted on: 13 November 2024
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When it comes to maintaining a healthy and beautiful smile, dental crowns can play a significant role. Whether you're dealing with a cracked tooth, have severe decay, or simply want to enhance the appearance of your teeth, crowns offer a reliable solution. In this article, we'll explore what dental crowns are, why they might be necessary, and how dentists perform this transformative procedure.
Understanding Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are designed to restore the tooth's shape, size, strength, and appearance. Made from various materials such as porcelain, ceramic, metal alloys, or a combination of these, crowns blend seamlessly with your natural teeth for a flawless look.
Why You Might Need a Crown
There are several reasons why you might need a dental crown. One common reason is to protect a weakened tooth from further damage. This could be due to extensive decay that cannot be adequately repaired with fillings alone or after undergoing root canal therapy. Crowns also serve an aesthetic purpose by covering discolored or misshapen teeth, improving your smile's overall appearance.
Another practical application for crowns is to hold dental bridges in place or to cap dental implants. By choosing to get crowns put on by professional dentists, you can enjoy both functional and cosmetic benefits that enhance your oral health.
The Procedure: What to Expect
Getting crowns involves several steps and typically requires two visits to the dentist's office.
During your first visit, the dentist will examine your teeth and prepare the affected one by removing any decay and shaping it for the crown placement. This step may involve filing down the tooth or building it up if there isn’t enough structure left. Impressions of your teeth are then taken to create a custom crown.
While waiting for the permanent crown to be fabricated in a dental lab—a process that usually takes one to two weeks—you'll receive a temporary crown to protect the prepared tooth. It’s important to treat this temporary crown gently by avoiding sticky or hard foods until your next appointment.
On your second visit, your dentist will remove the temporary crown and check the fit of the permanent one. After making any necessary adjustments for comfort and bite alignment, they will cement the new crown onto your tooth using a strong adhesive. With proper care and regular check-ups with your dentist, your new crown can last many years.
Contact a local dental center to learn more, like Magnolia Dental.