5 Reasons Why You May Need Dental Crowns
My name is Dr. Alex Shalman, and I am a cosmetic dentist in New York City and New Jersey. I am also a fifth generation dentist. Since my great, great grandmother finished dental school in 1917 to become one of the first female dentists in Moscow, Russia, my family has been practicing dentistry for nearly 100 years. I am... more
Being proactive about your teeth and gums by practicing thorough dental hygiene is very important. Sadly, bad dental hygiene habits are hard to break, which typically results in weakened and unsightly teeth. Fortunately, both the appearance and function of your damaged teeth can be restored with dental crowns.
Read on to discover the five reasons you may need a dental crown installed in your mouth.
1. You’ve undergone root canal
A root canal is usually performed to eliminate the rooting pulp of the infected tooth. Unluckily, this treatment significantly weakens the tooth by leaving it hollow inside. While a root canal saves you from tooth extraction, it puts the affected tooth at increased risk of fracturing from daily chewing. A dental crown is a great and commonly used option to protect weakened teeth. It can be installed after your root canal to strengthen the tooth and prevent potential treatment failure.
2. You have large fillings
If one or more of your teeth have lots of cavities or one big cavity, they’re more prone to breakage, infection, and severe decay. Cavities are typically filled with different materials like gold, porcelain, and silver. However, sometimes large dental fillings can destabilize your tooth. Over time, biting pressure from neighboring teeth can cause the one with the filling to crack or even break completely. Such teeth need to be stabilized, and installing a crown is a great way to do it. The crown covers the affected tooth to provide it with a strong exterior and allows the pressure to be distributed equally across its surface.
3. You have aesthetic concerns
Installing dental crowns can help fix various aesthetic issues, including deep or recurring discoloration, mild overcrowding, small gaps, crookedness, and chips. Different crown materials provide different benefits. A porcelain dental crown can be customized to look exactly like your real teeth. Besides, porcelain is immune to discoloration and stains. Consider reaching out to an experienced dental specialist to determine if you’re a good candidate for porcelain dental crowns.
4. You have a cracked tooth
There are numerous potential causes of cracked teeth, including dental injury, decay, bruxism, and severe biting pressure. Similar to a large filling, a crack can weaken your tooth. The more you chew or grind with it, the more likely it will fracture completely. If breakage occurs, a dental specialist can revitalize the tooth with a dental crown. However, if the damage is too severe, the remaining portion of the tooth may need to be extracted. Even when installing a dental implant, you’ll still require a dental crown attached on top of it to help prevent additional damage.
5. You have worn down enamel
The enamel is a protective layer of your teeth that safeguards you against decay. However, aggressive brushing, poor dental hygiene, and a diet high in acids and sugar can cause your enamel to wear down rapidly. This makes your teeth vulnerable to bacteria that trigger decay and infections. Depending on the severity of enamel erosion and the location of the affected teeth, a dental specialist may install one or a few dental crowns to replace worn-down enamel. If enamel erosion has occurred only in your front teeth, veneers may be a more appropriate solution as they require less tooth structure to be trimmed away.
The bottom line
If you have weakened, discolored, or damaged teeth, consider covering them with dental crowns to provide protection, prevent further damage, and improve the appearance. Remember that a dental crown can help you avoid irreversible damage resulting from the tooth with impaired structure.
