Millions of people have dental crowns, or “caps”, that restore damaged teeth. The restorations protect the remaining tooth structure and if crafted from today’s high-tech porcelains, are nearly indistinguishable from natural teeth.
The process typically involves two visits to the dentist, but some offer same-day dental crowns Carmel IN. Dr. team will inspect the compromised tooth and if necessary, perform a root canal or other treatment to prepare the tooth for the crown.
Durability
Crowns are durable appliances, and with good oral hygiene and regular dental visits they can last 10-15 years. They are made of materials that withstand chewing and biting pressure, and they are designed to closely resemble the shape, size, and color of your natural teeth. Dental crowns are often crafted from ceramic or porcelain, which provide the most natural appearance, though they can also be made of gold or another durable material.
Dental crowns are versatile and can be used for restorative or cosmetic purposes. They restore severely damaged teeth to protect them from further decay, and they can hide tooth discoloration that doesn’t respond to enamel whitening treatments. Unlike veneers, crowns completely encase the damaged tooth from the gum line up to provide comprehensive protection and strength. Our dentists will carefully prepare the tooth to receive a crown, and they’ll take impressions of your teeth and surrounding bite before manufacturing your custom-designed crown. Once it’s ready, we’ll invite you back to our office for placement and cementation.
Strength
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that covers a damaged tooth. It protects and rebuilds a tooth’s shape and size, and restores its strength. It is an ideal solution for teeth that are broken or severely decayed, a missing tooth, or to replace the anchor of a dental bridge.
Dental crowns are made from a wide variety of materials. Traditional porcelain is a long lasting, highly durable material that can be color matched to look like one of your natural teeth. Other dental crowns Carmel IN are crafted from metal, such as gold, for added strength.
In most cases, a dental crown can prevent the need for a more complex treatment option such as a tooth extraction. It can also save healthy teeth that may otherwise require removal due to severe decay or damage. Moreover, it can help preserve the structure of the jawbone and improve the clarity of your speech by restoring the form and function of missing or misshapen teeth.
Aesthetics
A broken or damaged tooth isn’t just harmful to your oral health – it can also be bad for your self-image. A crown can protect a tooth that is weakened by large fillings or severe decay and restore its shape, size, and function for an overall healthier smile.
Dental crowns are custom fabricated to look and feel like natural teeth, matching their color, size, and shape. They can be made of a number of materials, including metal, resin, porcelain-fused-to-metal, and ceramic.
The materials are crafted to be durable and blend well with the rest of your teeth. Metal crowns are the most durable, making them a good choice for molars that do the brunt of the chewing work. Resin and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are less durable, but appear more natural than metal. Ceramic crowns are the most aesthetic, but they are more susceptible to fractures than other types of dental crowns. When cared for properly, dental crowns can last a decade or longer.
Comfort
If a tooth becomes damaged due to decay, trauma, or other factors, prompt treatment is crucial to prevent further damage, maintain oral function, and protect the health of surrounding teeth. Left untreated, a damaged tooth can become vulnerable to infection and even fracture.
Crowns help patients avoid having to have a damaged tooth extracted by preserving as much of the natural tooth/enamel as possible. Crowns can also help if a patient needs to have a dental implant to replace a missing tooth because they provide the base for the false tooth that is placed on top of it.
Traditional crowns typically require two visits to the dentist, one visit to eliminate the decayed and damaged material and another to place the new crown. Same-day crowns can be placed in one visit if the dentist uses detailed digital impressions to manufacture the crown on site. Regardless of which type of crown a patient chooses, all crowns can be maintained with proper brushing and flossing twice daily, regular dental cleanings, and routine checkups.
