Dental Crowns & Their Benefits

When your teeth are cracked or compromised, it is important to act quickly to avoid tooth loss. Dental crowns are one way to protect the remaining structure of your tooth and restore the appearance of your smile. What are dental crowns, and what are some of the benefits of choosing them to solve your dental problems?

What Are Dental Crowns? 

Dental crowns are tooth-colored and tooth-shaped caps that are installed on top of your teeth. Crowns can be made from multiple materials, including metal, porcelain, and resin. They can be used to protect teeth that are weak, decaying, or broken and avoid further damage. Dental crowns can also be used to cover teeth with a root canal or a dental implant. By taking care of your crown properly and modifying your diet, your crown can last a long time.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Crowns? 

There are numerous applications for dental crowns, and many patients benefit from them every year. Because they can help protect teeth that are damaged, worn, or broken, they can allow patients to preserve the structure of their teeth for longer and avoid extraction. Crowns can also allow you to keep your smile beautiful and speak naturally. Providing that you take care of them properly, your dental crowns can last for up to 15 years.

How Do Dental Crowns Work? 

In most cases, your dental crown will require two separate appointments. During the first appointment, the dentist will get your tooth ready for crown installation. This will involve removing a small amount of your enamel so that there is space to install the crown and bond it properly. Your dentist will also take impressions of your teeth to create your custom crown. In order to keep you comfortable until your crown is ready, a temporary crown will be installed.

Once your dentist has your finished crown ready, you will return for your second appointment. During this appointment, the dentist will remove the temporary crown and confirm that the color, shape, and fit of the new crown are correct. Once this is done, they will secure the new crown to your tooth with special cement. Your new crown will look and function the same as a normal tooth.

Some dentists now offer Same Day Crowns. At Wedgewood Dental, keeping the needs of our patients at the top of mind, we have invested in CEREC technology to provide same-day dental crowns to save your time and efforts.

When Might You Need a Dental Crown?

Many patients associate crowns with root canals, but they have a much broader range of applications than you might realize. Some of the times that a dental crown might be appropriate include:

• To anchor a dental bridge

• To restore a broken tooth 

• To strengthen a weak tooth 

• To cover a dental implant

• To cover a severely discolored tooth

• To protect a cracked tooth 

• To cover a tooth with a root canal

If you think that a crown might be appropriate to solve your dental problems, don't hesitate to speak with your dentist.

Will You Need to Adjust Your Diet? 

Yes, you should adjust your diet once you have a temporary or permanent crown installed. Even though a high-quality adhesive is used to keep the crown in your mouth, some foods can do damage to the material. Avoid chewing ice or extremely crunchy or hard foods. Don’t chew popcorn with kernels or eat kernels by themselves. You should also try to stay away from sticky food like caramel or taffy, as these foods can pull on the crown and cause it to come off.

Get Ready for a Better Smile

Wedgewood Dental is your dentist in Rolla. We offer a comprehensive range of cosmetic and general dentistry services in Salem, MO, and Rolla, MO. We offer crowns to help strengthen your teeth and protect your smile. To schedule your appointment today, call us at (573) 368-7325 or click here.