Dental Crowns
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Dental Crowns in Greenwood Village, CO
When a tooth is cracked or infected and unlikely to recover without protection, a dental crown specialist may be in order. Dental crowns are prosthetics designed to help protect a weak, broken, or decayed tooth, most often after significant decay or an impact-related crack. While relatively simple, there are several key questions and considerations to consider when considering the possibility of a crown.
What is a Dental Crown?
Dental crowns are tooth caps made from porcelain or metals, custom-designed to fit over and adhere to a damaged tooth structure. Crowns are an important option when fillings aren’t adequate for maintaining a tooth’s long-term strength. If the damage is significant, you’ll need protection for the tender pulp and tooth nerve below.
Sometimes, a dental crown can provide the healing time and space needed for the damaged tooth to heal, at least partially. In most cases, however, a dental crown is designed to remain in place for as long as possible, with the goal of a permanent tooth cap.
Why Would I Need a Dental Crown?
Teeth are alive, and each tooth is essentially an organ requiring blood supply and nerve impulses within a closed environment. If something happens to reduce its structural integrity and/or breach that internal space, an external barrier may be necessary to prevent further exposure and decay.
Some of the most common reasons a dental crown might be needed include:
- Sudden impacts cause a cracked tooth
- Damage left by tooth infections
- Modern diets, rich in carbohydrates and acidic substances, which wear out the enamel
- Numerous cavities that leave a tooth brittle
Benefits of a Dental Crown
A dental crown functions as a barrier between the vulnerable portion of a damaged tooth and the rest of the mouth, allowing you to chew with ease and protect the tooth from further damage.
If a tooth condition is reversible, a crown can be likened to a cast for extra support during the healing process. However, most conditions warranting a crown require permanent protection. If a nerve is infected and dies, the likeliest alternative would be a root canal, which is much more invasive, making a dental crown a vital preventative measure to full tooth extraction.
The Dental Crown Procedure
Dental crowns require a clean, infection-free area. We begin by evaluating, cleaning, and preparing the damaged tooth, then taking a bite impression to create a proper-fitting mold. You’ll then receive a temporary crown as we fabricate the permanent crown. When it’s ready, you’ll undergo the final placement of the crown, affixed using an extremely powerful cement-like adhesion.
How Long Do Crowns Last?
When properly cared for, high-quality crowns could last a lifetime. Depending on the type of crown, you can expect them to last between 10 and 30 years before needing to be replaced. How long your crown will last is affected by several factors:
- Diet & use
- Tooth strength
- Teeth grinding & jaw tension
- Possible impacts on the tooth
- Oral hygiene levels
Generally, you’ll want to avoid excessively hard or sticky foods, especially if the tooth was badly damaged, and receive regular dental check-ups and cleanings. In your own tooth-care routine, be sure to brush and floss, particularly down below the crown line, although with a gentle touch.
Dental Crown Specialist in Greenwood Village, CO
If your tooth’s been badly damaged, we may recommend a dental crown to protect it and give it a chance to heal. It can be unnerving to consider, but it’s a common dental procedure that allows patients to elevate their dental care routine and avoid more costly and painful alternatives. To book an appointment or ask our friendly office staff any questions, contact Greenwood Dental Arts—the premier dental crown specialist in Greenwood Village, Colorado.