What Is a Dental Crown and Why Do I Need One?

A dental crown is designed to improve the way a tooth looks. Besides providing a patient with cosmetic benefits, a crown also protects the tooth from further breakdown and wear. Prior to placement, a crown looks like a hollow, tooth-shaped cap. Once cemented in place, the crown completely covers the visible portion of the tooth.

What Is a Dental Crown?

Dental crowns are custom-made dental prostheses that are used to permanently restore damaged teeth. A crown is designed to cover a natural tooth, essentially providing the portion of the natural tooth that remains with protection.

Besides covering natural teeth, a crown is used in conjunction with a dental implant to replace missing teeth. The implant (titanium screw) serves as the artificial root for the crown.

When Are Dental Crowns Used?

The main reason a dental professional recommends that an individual consider a crown is to restore the functionality, strength, size, and shape of a damaged tooth. In addition, a crown can be used to improve the appearance of a tooth, for example, if someone has a chipped front tooth, a crown can be used to cover the tooth, thus, eliminating one’s ability to see the chip.

Situations when a crown may be recommended include to:

• Replace a failing dental filling.
• Restore a broken tooth.
• Protect a tooth that is cracked and/or weak due to decay: A crown adds support that can help protect the tooth from further damage.
• Replace a broken filling.
• Add length to teeth that have been worn down due to bruxism (subconsciously grinding teeth while asleep).
• Hold a traditional dental bridge in place.
• Replace a missing tooth as the visible portion of a dental implant.
• Cosmetically modify an individual’s smile (e.g., reshaping, rotating or closing gaps between the teeth).
• Cover and add support to a tooth with a large filling, especially if there is not very much natural tooth remaining.
• Add strength to teeth that have had a root canal.

There are several kinds of permanent crowns available:

• All-ceramic crowns.
• Crowns that consist of all metal.
• Stainless steel crowns.
• Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
• Crowns that consist entirely of resin materials.

If you are in the Greater Dayton Ohio Area, and you are experiencing a dental issue, contact Gamber Family Dental today at 1-937-258-2441. Dr. Gamber and his team of caring dental professionals may be able to help.