CROWNS
Grinding your teeth, an improper bite, age, fillings and tooth decay are all contributing factors in the erosion, cracking or breakage of your teeth. If the entire surface of the tooth is damaged, but the root system has remained intact, your dentist will usually suggest that a dental crown be put in place.
A crown covers the tooth and restores it to its original shape and size. Decay is removed and cleaned from the tooth, the tooth is prepared and a laboratory fabricated gold or porcelain (tooth colored) crown is then cemented onto the prepared surface of the tooth. This procedure is generally done in two steps with the patient wearing a temporary crown during the time the permanent crown is being fabricated by the dental laboratory.
Esthetic or cosmetic crowns made entirely of porcelain can be used in anterior areas to provide superior esthetics. These crowns can also be used to correct malpositioned or damaged anterior teeth.
Advantages:
Crowns are incredibly strong due to the fact that they are created in a laboratory. This protects and strengthens the remaining tooth structure. The seamless closure of the crown helps keep decay from eventually occurring under the crown.
Crowns should be placed before the tooth is so decayed that it may fracture. This can often help prevent the expense of root canal therapy in the future. It can also prevent the possibility that a fractured tooth may need to be removed, requiring the expense of a bridge or implant to replace the missing tooth.
Disadvantages:
Crowns are excellent restorations and have few disadvantages. They are highly durable, but they will eventually need to be re-cemented or replaced due to normal wear. Occasionally, a tooth may still need root canal therapy after being crowned. However, this indicates that the interior of the tooth was already sick (infected) and would have eventually needed root canal therapy anyway. In addition, good oral hygiene is important around the gingival margins (edges) of the crowns to ensure new decay does not begin in these areas.
Alternatives:
In the event that a tooth is so decayed or fractured that it needs to be removed, the best alternatives to a crown are bridges and implants that replace the missing tooth. |
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