Remember to Take out Your Dentures Every Night

A dental crown, which is also known as a cap, is a restorative device that is used to cover the natural crown of a tooth. The natural crown is the entire portion of the tooth that is exposed in the mouth. If you have a damaged tooth, your dentist may use a crown to restore your tooth's function and appearance.

Here is a bit of information about dental crowns and their benefits.

What are the Benefits of Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns are the perfect solution to a number of dental problems. They can restore teeth that have been damaged by injury or disease and protect teeth with existing dental work. The dental crowns work by overlaying the natural crown and filling in the gaps between the tooth and your gum line.

Dental crowns offer multiple benefits. The devices:

• Improve oral health by completing the restoration of teeth that require invasive procedures, such as root canal treatments
• Prevent tooth decay and tooth loss by protecting the tooth from oral acids and bacteria
• Restore the structure of teeth that have been damaged by injury or disease
• Protect the underlying teeth from fracture
• Relieve the pain of dental sensitivity from exposed dentin

What Materials Are Suitable for Dental Crowns? 

Dental crowns can be made of gold, porcelain, porcelain-over-metal, resin, zirconia, or other materials. The choice of the material is based on the needs of the patient and the location of the tooth.

Tooth-colored crowns, which are made from white materials, such as porcelain or resin, are often preferred for teeth that are near the front of the mouth. However, the durability of metal crowns may be preferred for the molars, since the crowns would incur a large amount of bite pressure but would not be visible when the person smiles. Porcelain-over-metal dental crowns can be used in cases when there is a need for a tooth to be fortified against damage and still remain white for cosmetic purposes.

How Does a Dentist Install a Dental Crown?

To prepare for the fabrication and installation of a crown, the dentist will examine the tooth, take an impression of it, and then send the mold to a dental lab. The lab will use the impression to create a crown for the patient.

Once the lab sends the crown to the dental office, the device is cemented to the underlying tooth.

To learn more about dental crowns, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your local area.