Dental crowns are so common that you likely know at least one person who has one, if you don’t have one yourself. Today’s crowns are often so lifelike that you may never notice just how many people you know with one, unless they want you to know. A dental crown is called such because it’s designed to be a replica of your tooth’s crown—the visible part of the tooth that protrudes from your gum line. Because it completely covers your tooth, a dental crown may be the most appropriate solution for a wide variety of dental concerns.
Not sure how to fix your broken tooth
Choosing how to fix a broken tooth is best left to a dentist. Deciding when to seek help is up to you. Feeling your tooth crack or break can be scary. Not only do you know you can’t avoid a trip to the dentist, but you can see dollar signs. Have no fear. There are plenty of ways to fix a tooth. Some are more complex and expensive than others, and the proper treatment will depend upon the type of crack, chip, or break. Some treatments include dental bonding, a dental crown, dental veneer, or root canal. Broken tooth? What’s the right treatment for you?
Bonding
If your break is just a chip and the tooth is not badly damaged, you may be able to have your tooth bonded. A tooth-colored resin composite is shaped to fit the tooth and fill in the chipped area. An adhesive is placed, and the resin hardened with an ultraviolet light.
Veneer
If the tooth that is chipped or broken is one of the front upper or bottom teeth, a dental veneer (a thin piece of porcelain or resin composite) will be bonded to the tooth’s surface to restore it.
When Your Tooth Is Substantially Damaged
A crack, fracture, or break in your tooth’s structure is usually considered an emergency because the damage can pose several immediate threats to your oral health. Besides the sometimes intense pain of a damaged tooth, the compromised structure can also leave the tooth’s sensitive nerves and tissues vulnerable to infection from oral bacteria. To restore the tooth and prevent the damage from growing worse, your dentist can suggest capping it with a customized dental crown.
Root Canal
If the breakage is large enough to expose the pulp of the tooth, your dentist will perform a root canal which consists of removing the tooth’s pulp, disinfecting the inside of the tooth, sealing it, and placing a crown.
After Receiving Root Canal Treatment
Like tooth damage, tooth decay can occur in varying stages, and proper treatment depends on how severe it is. For severe, internal tooth decay, root canal treatment is often necessary to remove the infection from within the tooth. However, the procedure can leave your tooth weak due to the significant amount of tooth structure that may need to be removed. Therefore, your dentist might suggest placing a crown over a tooth that has received root canal treatment to offer more comprehensive protection.
When You Need to Replace a Lost Tooth
Today’s dental crowns can do more for your smile than ever, especially when combined with a lifelike dental implant. An implant is a small, root-like post that can be inserted into your jawbone. Designed to mimic the functions of a healthy tooth root, an implant can be used to support your lifelike dental implant, creating a complete replacement for a lost tooth and its root.
Dental Crown
There are several types of crowns from all ceramic, porcelain on metal, to all metal versions. The larger the piece of tooth that breaks off the more likely the dentist will need to cover it with a dental crown. To do this he or she will file away some of the remaining natural tooth structure, make an impression of the tooth, send it to the lab where they will fabricate a new prosthetic tooth, and then permanently bond it to the remaining tooth structure. The tooth is then restored both functionally and esthetically.
Porcelain Brings Beauty to Restorative Treatment
There are a number of reasons porcelain crowns have become one of the most popular forms of restorative treatment. For instance:
- Whether a crown is being used to protect a damaged tooth or to replace one that fell out or was extracted, it can be a lovely addition to your smile.
- Porcelain can be customized to match your teeth in size, shape, and even contouring.
- Crowns can be used as part of a dental bridge or dental implant, creating a stable form of completion after tooth loss.
- Because porcelain is much like your teeth’s natural enamel, crowns can be taken care of the same way you care for your existing teeth.
- They are both stain and chip-resistant.
- With proper care, including regular checkups and cleanings, a porcelain crown should last many years, even longer than a decade in some cases.
Find Out if a Crown Is Appropriate for Your Smile
Made from a variety of materials and designed to closely mimic healthy, natural teeth, dental crowns are often ideal for addressing a wide variety of dental health issues. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Lake Forest Dental Arts in Lake Forest, IL, at 847-234-0517. We also proudly serve residents of Chicago and all surrounding communities in the Chicago Metro area.