Dental crowns have become essential to restorative dentistry, offering a reliable solution to protect, enhance, and restore damaged teeth. Whether you’re dealing with a weakened tooth, extensive decay, or a cracked tooth, a dental crown can give you the stability and appearance you need. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the dental crown procedure, explain what to expect, and help you understand how crowns can benefit your overall oral health.
What Exactly Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a customised cap placed over a damaged or decayed tooth to regain its shape, size, strength, and function. Dental crowns not only protect the natural tooth structure but also improve the aesthetics of your smile by restoring the tooth’s natural appearance. From porcelain crowns to metal crowns and zirconia crowns, the choice of material can vary based on your needs and aesthetic preferences.
When Do You Need a Dental Crown?
- To Protect a Weak Tooth: A crown provides support and prevents further damage.
- Following a Root Canal: Crowns are frequently added to a tooth after a root canal to protect it from potential fractures.
- For Cosmetic Improvement: Crowns are an ideal solution for discoloured teeth or decayed teeth that impact your smile.
- Dental Implants: Crowns serve as the visible replacement tooth on top of a dental implant.
In short, if you have a damaged tooth, extensive decay, or a broken tooth, a dental crown might be the perfect solution.
Step-by-Step Guide to the Dental Crown Procedure
Let’s dive into the dental crown process so you know what to expect during your visits to the dental clinic.
Initial Consultation: Assessing the Need for a Crown
Your first visit involves a thorough examination. The dentist will evaluate the tooth structure and surrounding areas, assessing whether a crown is the best treatment for your needs.
Tooth Preparation: Getting Ready for the Crown
To place a crown, your dentist will first need to prepare the natural tooth by removing any tooth decay and reshaping it. This process ensures that the crown fits snugly over the prepared tooth. In cases where there’s extensive decay or damage, a core build-up may be done to support the crown.
Taking Dental Impressions: Crafting a Perfect Fit
Once your tooth is prepared, your dentist will take dental impressions of the prepared tooth and adjacent teeth. These impressions are then forwarded to a dental lab, where the custom dental crown is crafted to fit your tooth precisely.
Temporary Crown Placement: Protecting Your Tooth in the Meantime
While waiting for your final permanent dental crown, your dentist will suggest placing a temporary crown to protect the prepared tooth. This temporary crown helps prevent sensitivity and protects the gum tissue until your next visit.
Crown Fitting and Adjustments: Ensuring Comfort and Function
When your final crown is ready, your dentist will remove the temporary crown and place the new custom dental crown to check its fit, comfort, and natural appearance. Any necessary adjustments will be made to ensure it feels comfortable and blends in with your natural tooth colour.
Crown Placement: Securing Your New Tooth
Once the fit and appearance are perfect, your dentist will position the permanent crown in place using dental cement. This final step completes the dental crown procedure, and your crowned tooth should now look and feel just like a natural tooth.
Caring for Your Crowned Tooth: Keep It Strong and Lasting
Maintaining your dental crowns involves similar care as natural teeth. Here are some tips to ensure your crown placement lasts:
- Good Oral Hygiene: Brush and floss regularly, paying extra attention to the area around the dental crown.
- Avoid Hard Foods: Refrain from chewing on hard objects, as this can damage both the crown and surrounding teeth.
- Routine Dental Check-ups: Schedule regular visits to your dentist to monitor your dental health and assess the condition of your crown.
Temporary Crowns: What to Expect and How to Care for Them
During the dental crown procedure, you’ll likely have a temporary crown positioned on your tooth until your permanent crown is ready. Temporary crowns aren’t as durable as permanent crowns, so taking extra care is essential.
Guidelines for Caring for Your Temporary Crown
- Steer Clear of Sticky or Hard Foods: These can loosen or harm the temporary crown.
- Be Gentle When Flossing: Slide the floss out carefully to avoid pulling off the temporary crown.
- Minimise Chewing on That Side: Try to chew on the opposite side to reduce pressure on the temporary crown.
Temporary crowns play an important role in protecting teeth while you wait for the final crown placement. Once your permanent crown is ready, you’ll have a secure and durable restoration.
Types of Dental Crowns and Their Benefits
Understanding the different types of crowns helps you make a proper selection for your dental health and aesthetic goals.
Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain crowns are favoured for their natural appearance. They mimic the translucency and shade of your natural tooth colour, making them ideal for visible front teeth.
Zirconia Crowns
Zirconia crowns are a relatively new option, offering exceptional durability and a close match to natural teeth. They’re especially useful for patients with tooth sensitivity.
Metal Crowns
Known for their strength, metal crowns are resistant to wear and last longer than other types. Although they’re often visible, they work well for back teeth where durability is critical.
Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM)
PFM crowns provide the strength of metal with a porcelain coating for a more natural look. While durable, they may reveal a metal line near the gum line over time.
Dental Crowns vs. Dental Implants: What’s the Difference?
A dental crown covers an existing natural tooth structure, while a dental implant replaces a missing tooth root with an artificial one. Crowns are commonly used for restoring damaged teeth, whereas implants are used when a tooth is entirely missing. In some cases, the two treatments are combined, with an implant placed in the jawbone and then topped with a custom dental crown.
Benefits of Dental Implants with Crowns
- Permanent Solution for Missing Teeth: Implants offer a solid foundation for crown placement.
- Preserves Jawbone Health: Implants stimulate the jawbone, preventing bone loss.
- Restores Function and Aesthetics: Together, implants and crowns regenerate the look and function of a natural tooth.
Why Is Tooth Preparation Necessary?
How Tooth Preparation Enhances Durability
- Improves Fit: Proper preparation ensures the crown fits securely.
- Prevents decay Under the Crown: By removing decayed areas, the prepared tooth is less likely to develop cavities.
- Protects Against Future Damage: Tooth preparation strengthens the foundation for the crown, reducing the risk of fractures.
What to Expect with Your Permanent Crown
When your permanent crown is finally placed, it should feel comfortable and look natural. Over the next few days, you may notice minor tooth sensitivity as you adjust to the new crown. Your dentist will ensure that the crown’s shape and fit align with your other teeth so you can chew and speak comfortably.
Potential Complications and How to Handle Them
While dental crowns are a safe and effective treatment, potential issues may arise. It’s helpful to be aware of these possibilities and understand how to address them if needed.
Common Issues with Crowns
- Sensitivity: Often experienced after crown placement, sensitivity can usually be managed with desensitising toothpaste.
- Chips and Cracks: Porcelain crowns can sometimes chip. Small chips can be repaired, but larger fractures may require a replacement.
- Loose Crowns: If your crown feels loose, avoid chewing on it until you can visit your dentist to prevent it from falling off.
- Gum Irritation: Some patients may notice irritation around the gum tissue after the crown is placed. This can often be alleviated with proper brushing and flossing.
Dental Crowns for Aesthetic Improvements: Beyond Protection
Dental crowns don’t just protect your teeth—they can also significantly improve your smile’s appearance. Crowns are commonly used to cover discoloured teeth, close gaps, or reshape damaged teeth.
Benefits of Porcelain and Ceramic Crowns for Aesthetics
- Natural Look: Porcelain and ceramic crowns blend well with natural teeth, making them ideal for visible teeth.
- Custom Colour Matching: Dentists can match the shade of the crown to your natural tooth colour for a seamless look.
- Improved Confidence: For those with decayed or damaged teeth, crowns can enhance your smile, boosting self-confidence.
How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
With proper care, dental crowns can last about 10 to 15 years and, in some cases, even longer. Regular dental check-ups, a good oral health routine, and avoiding harmful habits (like biting on hard objects) are crucial to extending the life of your crown.
By following these additional guidelines and working closely with your dentist, your dental crown can provide long-lasting benefits, protect your tooth structure, and restore both function and beauty to your smile. Whether you’re opting for zirconia crowns for durability or all-porcelain crowns for aesthetics, a well-maintained crown can greatly contribute to your overall dental health.
Debunking Common Myths About Dental Crowns: Separating Fact from Fiction
Dental crowns are a well-established treatment in modern dentistry, yet many misconceptions surround their use and purpose. From concerns about durability to fears about appearance, these myths can cause patients unnecessary worry. Let’s debunk some of the most common myths about dental crowns, giving you a clearer understanding of what to expect.
Myth 1: Crowns Are Only for People with Severe Dental Issues
Fact: While it’s true that crowns are often used to restore teeth with extensive decay or severe damage, they’re also valuable for a range of other dental needs. Crowns can help patients looking to enhance their smile by covering discoloured teeth or reshaping natural teeth with minor imperfections. They’re also used to strengthen teeth after root canal treatments or to protect weakened teeth. So, crowns aren’t just for major dental issues; they’re versatile tools for improving both the look and functionality of teeth.
Myth 2: Dental Crowns Look Unnatural and Stand Out
Fact: Modern dental crowns are designed to blend seamlessly with natural teeth. With advancements in materials like porcelain and zirconia, crowns can be custom-matched to your natural tooth colour, giving them a realistic and attractive appearance. For visible front teeth, all-porcelain crowns are particularly popular due to their lifelike translucency. Dentists take precise dental impressions and even work with dental labs to ensure the crown placement looks natural. If you’re worried about a crown standing out, talk to your dentist about the various options available for a natural appearance.
Myth 3: Crowns Are Uncomfortable and Make Chewing Difficult
Fact: When properly fitted, a dental crown should feel as comfortable as a natural tooth. A well-placed crown restores the shape and function of a damaged tooth, allowing you to chew normally. Initially, you might feel a slight difference as you adjust to the new crowned tooth, but within a few days, it should feel completely natural. Dentists take special care to ensure that the crown’s fit and alignment match with adjacent teeth to avoid discomfort. If any discomfort persists, it’s usually due to minor adjustments needed, which can easily be addressed by your dentist.
Myth 4: Getting a Crown Is Painful and Requires a Lengthy Procedure
Fact: Advances in dentistry have made the dental crown procedure much more comfortable and efficient. Dentists use local anaesthesia to numb the area, ensuring minimal discomfort during tooth preparation. After this, a temporary crown is placed while your custom crown is created in a dental lab. The final fitting is a relatively quick and easy process. For most patients, the overall process is straightforward, involving just two to three dental visits. If you have anxiety about dental procedures, ask your dentist about options for added comfort during the process.
Myth 5: Crowns Cause Tooth Sensitivity and Decay
Fact: It’s common to experience mild tooth sensitivity right after crown placement, but this usually subsides within a few days. Properly fitted crowns cover the prepared tooth and seal it against bacteria, protecting it from further decay. In fact, crowns are specifically designed to prevent further damage to weakened teeth. Practising good oral hygiene—brushing, flossing, and using fluoride toothpaste—helps to keep the gum tissue and surrounding area healthy, preventing decay beneath the crown. Regular dental check-ups ensure your crown and natural teeth remain protected.
Myth 6: Crowns Are Only Made of Metal
Fact: While metal crowns were once the standard, today’s dental crowns come in a variety of materials tailored to each patient’s needs and preferences. Porcelain, zirconia, and porcelain fused to metal are popular materials for crowns, offering both durability and aesthetic appeal. Patients can choose crowns that match the shade of their natural teeth for a nearly invisible result. Metal crowns are still an option for those seeking a highly durable restoration, often for back molars, but they are by no means the only choice.
Myth 7: Crowns Cause Bad Breath
Fact: Crowns themselves don’t cause bad breath, but poor hygiene around a crown can lead to bacterial build-up that may contribute to bad breath. Proper cleaning around the gum tissue and regular dental visits prevent plaque build-up around the crown’s edges, reducing the risk of bad breath. If you maintain good oral hygiene and attend your dental appointments, your crown should remain clean and odour-free.
Myth 8: Crowns Make Your Tooth “Dead”
Fact: A crown itself doesn’t affect the vitality of the tooth underneath. However, if a tooth has undergone a root canal treatment, the tooth’s nerve may have been removed as part of the procedure. In such cases, the tooth is effectively non-vital (no longer has a nerve), but this is due to the root canal treatment, not the crown. A crown simply provides a protective covering over the natural tooth and can be placed on both vital and non-vital teeth to strengthen and protect them.
Final Thoughts on Getting a Dental Crown
If you’re considering dental crowns and want to ensure you receive a premium standard of care, contact Available Dental Care at (02) 4601 3828.
References:
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Medical News Today. (n.d.). What you need to know about dental implants. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327515
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