How a Dental Crown Can Help With a Damaged Tooth
If you are preparing to get a dental crown, it is first helpful to understand how this treatment works. Knowing the process and purpose can help you feel more comfortable and at ease with the procedure. Crowns are effective when there are cosmetic issues with a tooth. This approach also can work well when there is serious damage affecting the health of the tooth. Your dentist has the knowledge and training to ensure that the treatment repairs the tooth.
Common causes of tooth damage
Teeth have two layers: enamel and dentin. The enamel layer is the harder of the two and is, in fact, harder than bone. Still, teeth are prone to breaking under the right conditions. Trauma to a tooth because of an injury or accident can chip, crack, or break a tooth. This is common in the front teeth and molars when biting into a hard object. A blow to the face in falls or sports injury can also cause this type of damage.
Poor oral health is also a cause of tooth damage. A person may need a dental crown when there is widespread tooth decay. This can occur because of ineffective brushing and flossing. Infections can also develop, which may start to deteriorate the tooth and make it brittle.
A description of a dental crown
A crown is a device that covers a diseased, weak, or damaged tooth. It can be made of a variety of materials but is usually made of ceramic, porcelain, or composite resin. An advantage of these materials is that all of them allow the crown to be tooth-colored and blend in well with the surrounding teeth. A crown is virtually identical to natural teeth in size and shape as well.
Prep work
To begin, the dentist will take X-rays of the patient’s mouth and make impressions of the tooth or teeth. Some offices have the technology to make crowns in the office and have them ready the same day. In other cases, a technician makes the dental crown in a lab. The patient would get a temporary crown until it is ready.
The process
To make the patient comfortable, the dentist will numb the area with a local anesthetic. Once the medication takes effect, the dentist will reshape the tooth. If there is decay or disease inside the damaged tooth, a root canal will likely be necessary first. The dentist will then place a temporary crown over the tooth. If the permanent dental crown is ready, the dentist will check the fit and make sure the bite is comfortable and correct. Then the dentist will cement the crown in place.
Cover and protect your broken tooth with a crown
A dental crown is one of the most common restorative treatments you could have. A crown protects a damaged tooth from further problems. It also stabilizes it. If you have a broken tooth, the crown will give you a full smile once more. Talk to your dentist today and see if you are a good candidate for this treatment.
Request an appointment here: https://www.qualitygentledentalcare.com or call Roman Khodosh DDS PC at (973) 676-2541 for an appointment in our East Orange office.
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