What is a Dental Crown?

What is a Dental Crown?

Feb 15, 2023

A dental crown is an artificial custom-made covering for an existing tooth or restoring a missing tooth. They are used to strengthen and improve the appearance of a decayed or broken tooth. Dental crowns are usually made of metal, ceramic, glass, or porcelain. They don’t require any special care other than proper oral hygiene. Visit our dentist in Southwest to cover, protect and restore the structure of your natural tooth.

Reasons For Dental Crown

You may need a dental crown in Southwest, Houston, for one of the following reasons.

  • To hold a dental bridge in place.
  • Cover a tooth that has undergone a root canal treatment
  • Restore a severely worn out or broken tooth
  • To protect a weak tooth from breaking due to severe decay or cracking
  • Used to cover and support a tooth with a large dental filling

How long do dental crowns last?

Dental crowns don’t last forever despite how well it’s fitted. Fortunately, they do have a long lifespan. A professionally well-fitted crown will last between five to fifteen years. For most dental insurance plans, the companies will allow a crown replacement every five to eight years. But if the crown is properly fitted, you will not need a replacement for at least a decade. Signs that your crown needs a replacement include:

  • Receding gum line
  • Pain or swelling, which could be a sign of an infection
  • If your crown gas cracked or chipped
  • The crown has noticeable wear and tear. Common for people with bruxism or teeth grinding
  • A loose crown indicates that the bonding materials used to attach the crown to the tooth are weakening.
  • A change in the crown appearance

Factors that could affect the lifespan of the crown include:

  • Oral Hygiene. Poor oral hygiene can make one lose their crown prematurely. Brush your teeth daily and floss them at least once a day. Neglecting your oral care routine can encourage tooth decay on your natural teeth, even the ones below the crowns.
  • The Type of Material Used. Metallic crowns are more durable compared to ceramic and porcelain dental crowns. However, due to aesthetic purposed, porcelain crowns are often used on the front teeth.
  • Bad Habits. Clenching or tooth grinding can cause damage to your teeth. Always wear a night guard to protect your teeth and crowns. Avoid crunching ice or hard food materials like nuts or candies.
  • You are using your Teeth as Tools. Using your teeth to tear sachets or uncork bottles will negatively impact the crown’s lifespan. Additionally, avoid biting your nails using your teeth.
  • The dentist’s Skill Set. How well-fitted the crown was and how the impression was taken can also make a difference to the lifespan of your crown. A digital scanner is more accurate than impression trays.

How Painful is it To Get a Crown?

Most people have a fear of dental procedures because they are afraid of pain. This fear extends to dental crowns. Getting a crown involves a painless procedure beginning from the first to the last episode. Our goal at Mi Casa Dental is to make our patients comfortable throughout the process.

The Procedure

Generally, getting a dental crown near you takes two dental visits.

The First Dental Appointment

During this visit, the tooth that’s going to receive the crown is examined and prepared. First, the dentist will take X-rays of the tooth and around it. Then, other dental procedures, such as root canals, will be done if required. After treating the tooth, it will be filed sideways, across, and top. This makes room for the crown. The amount of tooth that is filed depends on the type of crown to be placed.

After the tooth is reshaped, a paste will be used to make an impression of the tooth that will get a crown. Impression of the teeth above and next to the teeth getting the crown is also taken to ensure your bite is not affected.

The impressions are then taken to the laboratory and returned to the dentist after two or three weeks. On the first appointment, you will be given a temporary crown to protect the tooth.

Second Appointment

This is when the permanent crown is placed. The temporary crown is first removed, and then the shade of your permanent crown is checked. If all is in order, an esthetic is used to numb the tooth, and the crown is permanently cemented.

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