Your teeth and gums are a vital part of your healthy smile. Should something happen to one or more of your teeth, you might need the help of a dental crown restoration. At Shirer Family Dentistry, we offer custom crowns for our patients in Aiken, South Carolina.
A dental crown (or cap) is a fixed prosthetic restoration that is cemented onto a tooth to cover tooth damage and restore the tooth’s function. Not only can a crown be used to strengthen a tooth, but it can improve its alignment and appearance as well.
Why a tooth might need a crown restoration
- The tooth has a functional crack that could continue to fracture where a crown would work better than a filling.
- The tooth has been root-filled (root canal), and especially if the tooth is a molar.
- The tooth has a cavity with extensive decay that a dental filling can’t fix by itself.
- The tooth’s previous filling has failed, or an additional part of the tooth has broken off.
- The tooth has extensive wear and has lost height. This can stem from enamel erosion due to acids in the mouth, bruxism (clenching and grinding the teeth), or both.
- The tooth has changed color and shape and the appearance can best be remedied with a crown versus a dental filling or veneer.
- The tooth has a previous crown that is failing.
- The tooth is part of a dental bridge.
- You’ve had a dental implant placed that needs a cover.
To make your crown, our skilled dentist will take an impression of your tooth to be covered and make sure the crown will fit correctly into the impression. While your crown is in the shop, so to speak, you may wear a temporary crown.
Types of dental crowns
-Ceramic crowns are mostly used on the front teeth; they blend in with your natural teeth as they are made of a porcelain material. They are increasingly popular as they are colored and matched to your surrounding teeth.
-Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are stronger and more durable than normal porcelain crowns since they are attached to metal.
-Crowns from gold alloy are a mixture of gold, copper and other metals, are strong and don’t fracture.
-Crowns made from base metal alloy are strong and less likely to corrode.
While a crown can sometimes come loose or fall out, if you take good care of it, it can last a lifetime. This means you’ll want to take as good care of your crown as you do the rest of your teeth by brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once daily. You’ll also want to avoid chewing on hard objects like ice, candy, hard nuts, etc. You’ll need to complement your daily oral hygiene practice by seeing our dentist every six months, and we will remove harmful tartar, polish your teeth, check on your dental crown, and asses any oral health problems for timely treatment.
If you are having problems with a tooth, we invite you to come in a get it looked at by one of our dentists in Aiken, South Carolina. Drs. Michael and Susannah Shirer have successfully helped patients restore their smiles and look forward to helping you. Just call 803-648-6400 to schedule your consultation!