Learning More About Dental Crowns
Hey, this is Dr. Perry from Farmington Family Dental. I wanted to talk today about dental crowns and some of the most commonly asked questions that I get from my patients about crowns.
What are dental crowns?
A dental crown is a material that's made to sit over top of a tooth. Usually, it hugs the sides of the tooth as well to hold on as well as hold the tooth together. Typically, a crown is made out of a porcelain or a metal or a metal ceramic material. Most often, it's made to be tooth-colored, and sometimes we use metal, like a gold material, to cover the tooth.
What are the alternatives to dental crowns?
A dental crown has several alternatives. When we're thinking about putting a crown on a tooth, I'm considering what we need to accomplish. If we need something to wrap all the way around the tooth to hold it together, as in a case where a tooth is splitting or cracking, a crown is the best option.
If we're not seeing something that's functionally compromised, the tooth doesn't have a crack, it doesn't have a split, it's not headed in that direction, but it has a very large filling in it, and that large filling is starting to fail. An inlay or an onlay is a decent alternative as well.
In some cases, when we talk about a dental crown on a tooth, I've seen patients say, "Well, you know what? I don't want to do the dental crown. It doesn't sound like it's going to last long." In some cases, they don't last a long time. When the tooth is heavily compromised, we end up taking the tooth out and replacing it instead. Replacements for a tooth that's heavily compromised could be anything from a bridge. A bridge is three units or usually three pieces or more of dental crowns that are fused together. The crowns that hold the bridge in are the ones on both ends. Then there's a dental crown in the middle that just has no root to it. It has no tooth underneath it, holding it in. It's held in by the tooth side by side. That's a dental bridge.
Another alternative would be something like an implant where we put in a titanium post into the jaw, and that grows and heals in there, and then we put a tooth on over the top of it. That's probably the best replacement for a tooth because it cleans like a tooth, it feels like a tooth, and it functions as close to a tooth as what we have in dentistry. The last option is something that comes in and out. In some cases, I'll recommend a partial. Those work especially well when we have multiple missing spaces or if finances are an issue.
Do dental crowns look like normal teeth?
Crowns can look very natural. They can be made so well as to fool most eyes into whether they're natural or not. If you look at most celebrities on videos or who are actors or actresses, when they smile, you see a mouthful of perfect teeth, like absolutely perfect, but you can tell they're not dentures. Those are likely veneers, which is a variation of a crown, or they're crowns on the teeth, and they can be made to look that good.
Trying to match a natural tooth with a crown is probably one of the most challenging things we do in dentistry, especially when it's on full display on one of the upper front teeth. They can be done that way, but in most cases, we get them very close and not exactly the same. If exact sameness is what we're looking for, sometimes we do two or a pair, like in the front area, to make them look exactly the same.
While it's possible to match that tooth that day, some teeth tend to change color over decades. As that crown is in there over the decades, the crown is not likely to change color. It's not going to change color at the same pace that a tooth will, and that tends to cause a mismatch over the years. That's another reason why, if we're trying to make it look exactly the same, we'll just make two, to make them in a pair.
How should I take care of my dental crowns?
Dental crowns need care just like any tooth does. Brush it, floss it, and it'll be fine. The maintenance on it is just keeping plaque and bacteria off of it. The crown itself isn't attacked by the bacteria, by the way. The crown is going to be fine one way or the other. The problem is where the crown meets and interfaces with the tooth underneath it. That interface is especially vulnerable to bacteria seeping in, and then the acid the bacteria produce, when consuming sugars, erodes away at the tooth and can cause a cavity. A cavity just means a hole or a cave in a tooth. The bacteria literally erodes a cave or a hole to the point where it's not possible to maintain it, and then we need to replace a crown or something like that. But maintenance on it is just the same as a normal tooth. Brush it, floss it, it should be fine.
Call to action. I've answered some questions today on dental crowns—what they are, why they're used, and how they can look. If you're interested in having a tooth crown, fixing something up, or you have any other issue, we'd invite you to call us at Farmington Family Dental. We're happy to help. Our phone number is (573) 637-4404. Give us a call, and we'll help get you healthy.
At Farmington Family Dental, we are committed to providing comprehensive and personalized dental care to enhance the health and aesthetics of your smile. Our Dental crown services are designed to restore and strengthen damaged or compromised teeth, ensuring lasting functionality and a beautiful, natural-looking appearance.
Why Choose Dental Crowns in Farmington?
Experienced and Caring Team: Our dentists at Farmington Family Dental bring years of experience and expertise to the table. With a commitment to patient care, our team is dedicated to delivering top-notch dental services, including expertly crafted dental crowns.
Customized Treatment Plans: We understand that each patient’s dental needs are unique. Our approach involves thorough assessments to create personalized treatment plans tailored to address your specific concerns. Whether it’s a cracked tooth, extensive decay, or cosmetic improvements, our dental crowns are customized to meet your individual requirements.
High-Quality Materials: We use the latest advancements in dental materials, including porcelain, ceramic, and zirconia, to craft durable and aesthetically pleasing dental crowns. These materials mimic the natural appearance of teeth, providing both strength and a seamless blend with your existing dentition.
Comprehensive Consultations: Before proceeding with dental crown placement, our team conducts comprehensive consultations. This allows us to understand your dental history, assess the condition of the affected tooth, and discuss the most suitable options for your unique case.
Minimally Invasive Procedures: Our approach to dental crown placement is minimally invasive, ensuring that we preserve as much of your natural tooth structure as possible. This approach helps maintain the integrity of your smile while effectively addressing functional and cosmetic concerns.
Rediscover Your Smile with Dental Crowns in Farmington
Whether you need to restore a damaged tooth, improve the appearance of a misshapen tooth, or strengthen a tooth after a root canal, Farmington Family Dental is here to help. Dental crowns are a versatile and effective solution for a variety of dental issues, and we take pride in offering this service to our valued patients.
Contact Farmington Family Dental today to schedule a consultation and explore how dental crowns in Farmington can benefit your oral health.
Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional dental care in Farmington, ensuring that your smile receives the attention it deserves. Your journey to a healthier, more radiant smile begins with us.