Do you have a damaged or worn-down tooth preventing you from showing off your beautiful smile? You may benefit from receiving a dental crown! This highly effective option for restoring a damaged tooth is one of many ways we can improve your smile. Just one of the many treatment options we offer, crowns are a popular procedure done by Dr. Charvet. Here at Charvet Dental Center, we want to give you some insight into what crowns are, the procedure you will experience in our office, and why we recommend a patient receive one.
What are crowns?
Dental crowns, sometimes called dental caps, are protective tooth-shaped coverings placed over your natural tooth to prevent damage and preserve its strength. They are often recommended if you have a worn down tooth, after root canal treatment, to protect a cracked or damaged tooth, or simply to improve your smile for cosmetic purposes.
Though tooth enamel, the natural protective covering over your tooth, is the strongest substance in the body, it can erode through everyday wear and tear. Thus, a crown offers the power to replace and reinforce the enamel surface on your teeth in a relatively painless process. Any decay is removed so that only the healthy structure is built upon.
With proper care, crowns last between five and 15 years, allowing your teeth to function appropriately for a longer period of time. Crowns are manufactured from various materials, including ceramic, gold, and porcelain. Ceramic is a popular choice, known for its durability and camouflage.
What is the procedure like?
No matter why you may receive a crown, the process remains the same. Typically lasting two appointments, the first visit at Charvet Dental Center involves Dr. Charvet preparing your tooth by ridding the damaged area of any decay and reestablishing the structure. A temporary crown is inserted to protect the tooth from any potential damage between then and your next appointment. A custom mold is then sent to the dental lab, where a technician creates your permanent crown.
The temporary is removed during your second appointment at our office, in which the mold is affixed to the affected area, and adjustments are made on the spot to ensure seamless comfort. Charvet Dental Center uses sedation to ensure there is no discomfort involved in the process. We do our best to get you feeling back to normal as quickly as possible with the assistance of oral pain medication.
After the crown procedure is complete, the crown is there to ensure your teeth will function as normal. It restores your ability to eat, drink, and speak as normally as possible, no matter how damaged the previous tooth was!
How Do You Know If You Need A Dental Crown?
#1) Loss of Enamel
Breakdown of enamel may occur due to stress-induced teeth grinding and clenching in your sleep. As it chips away, your tooth shortens and flattens itself. If left unaddressed, it can be the first phase in leading to further dental issues such as infection and decay. A crown placed on top acts as an enamel replacement, covering the surface of the tooth and sealing it away to prevent any further issues. This treatment allows your original tooth to stay intact before permanent damage arises.
#2) Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatments are commonly performed to remove infected pulp and nerves inside the root of a tooth. The infection results in a lack of blood supply due to the inflammation, allowing the tooth to stay hydrated but leaving it in a weakened state. The tooth is then open to fractures from simple, everyday functions such as chewing and biting. The missing nerve makes it nearly impossible to detect symptoms of a cracked tooth showing themselves, leaving patients vulnerable and open to infection.
Crowns are often suggested by dentists after this procedure to hold the tooth together and prevent additional damage. This also ensures an ideal appearance for your smile.
#3) Weakened or Cracked Teeth
Cracked teeth can be the result of injury or gnashing, among other things. The fractured enamel exposes the tooth to cavities, chewing force, and temperature sensitivity. Trying to patch over only the affected surface area leaves it more likely to be damaged a second time due to everyday use. Placing a crown on top of this exposed tooth can prevent further fractures and allow it to recover its original shape, size, and strength. They allow long-term repair and protection.
#4) Large Fillings
While filings are a great temporary option to restore tooth structure, it does not simultaneously strengthen the tooth. If left alone, decay, destabilization, and inflamed roots may develop. Especially if the filling makes up more than half of the structure, inserting a crown is a great next step to prevent the filling from chipping away and support the reconstructed tooth. It acts as a reinforcement to secure the outer layer from everyday chewing and biting. Thus, harmful substances like bacteria are prevented from entering the filling.
#5) Aesthetic Appearance
There are a number of reasons why someone may pursue a dental crown for purely cosmetic reasons. Whether it is to fix discoloration, crookedness, staining and more, this treatment offers a solution to help turn around your confidence and allow your smile to shine. Ensuring any odd teeth fit in seamlessly with the rest can deter unwanted attention from insecurities you may harbor. Fixing a misshapen tooth perhaps sounds like a purely aesthetic reason to receive a crown, but filling out shortened teeth with a crown can help prevent other more serious issues further down the road.
Get Your Healthiest Smile At Charvet Dental Center
When a tooth can no longer perform its original function, it may be time to consider a crown with your dentist. A smile is something that lasts your lifetime, so being happy with it and showing it off to the world is worth the time and effort to boost your self-esteem.
If you are curious whether dental crowns are the right choice for you, schedule an appointment today, and we can talk you through the process, benefits, and any questions you have. Let us help you rediscover your smile through the power of dental crowns at Charvet Dental Center, and schedule an appointment at our Metairie office today!