Dental crowns are one of the most versatile tools a dentist has. They can be used for both cosmetic and restorative treatments. Our dentist of Laurel Smiles Dental Care, a dentist in Laurel, MD, explains the many uses of dental crowns.
Covering a Misshapen or Discolored Tooth
If you have a misshapen tooth, it can impact the way you feel about your smile. Depending on the defect and where it’s located in your mouth, it may also make it more difficult for you to bite and chew. A dental crown is custom-made to match with the rest of the teeth in your smile. It covers the entire tooth so you get both the aesthetic and functional value.
Discolored teeth can also cause you to be insecure about your smile. Traditional whitening techniques don’t always work for stains caused by things like medication or genetics. Dental crowns are color-matched to the rest of your smile, or whatever shade you choose. If you have one difficult tooth that can’t be whitened with traditional techniques, a dental crown can cover it.
Taking Care of a Cracked or Broken Tooth
When a tooth cracks, it exposes the dental pulp inside to the open air. This makes it easy for bacteria to get down into the pulp and causing an infection. It can lead to the need for a root canal. A dental crown goes over the pieces of a cracked tooth and makes sure they’re held together. They also seal off the inside of the tooth from infection.
A chipped or broken tooth can be something minor or a severe emergency dentistry problem that needs taken care of right away. Crowns are one of the most effective ways to treat a broken tooth. It goes over the entire tooth, making sure the sensitive nerves and dental pulp aren’t exposed. It also gives you the full use of your tooth back, filling in the part that was broken off.
The Final Restoration for Dental Implants
Dental crowns are often used as the final restoration on top of a dental implant. With a dental crown and dental implant, you get the most natural result when you replace a missing tooth. Dental crowns are made to look and feel like your natural teeth, and dental implants are the only restoration that replaces the tooth root.
Strengthening Natural Teeth
One of the most common uses for a dental crown is to stabilize a tooth after a root canal. A root canal removes infected dental pulp from the inside of the tooth. Though the tooth is then filled with a biocompatible material, it may not always be fully stable. A dental crown ensures the full functionality of the tooth and seals it off from any further infection.
The biggest downside to a dental bridge is the wear and tear it puts on the supporting teeth. These support teeth wear down faster than others and are at a higher risk for tooth decay. Putting dental crowns over these teeth means the crowns take on the stress instead. You don’t have to worry about your natural teeth degrading.
Dental Crowns at Your Laurel, Maryland Dentist
Can a dental crown fix your dental problem? Call us or schedule an appointment online today.