How Your Dentist Uses a Dental Crown

Dental Implant Camas, WA

If you’ve ever broken a tooth, then you’ve likely had a dental crown put on. What you may not know is what exactly a crown is and how they are used by the dentist. The crown itself is a very versatile dental application that works to restore the shape of a tooth as well as protect it from further damage and restore the patient’s ability to eat the foods they love. 

A dental crown is used for a few different things depending on the needs of the patient. While most of us are familiar with crowns to cap a broken tooth, the dentist may decide on a specific type of crown for a particular reason. In fact, crowns are for much more than just fixing a broken tooth. 

Dental crown uses

Knowing what a crown is used for can help when you have a dental situation that needs addressing. You may find that a crown is a viable solution for more than just one problem. A crown is not just a cosmetic procedure. It has more uses, such as preventing tooth damage and helping to support other dental applications. 

Here are some of the more common uses:

Repairing a broken tooth

This is what most people think of when they go to the dentist for a crown. Typically, when a tooth becomes broken, the dentist will file the damaged tooth down to a proper shape and then apply a crown to restore the tooth to its natural look and shape. Crowns come in a variety of materials, from composite materials that imitate real teeth to pure gold.  

The “cap” is placed over the tooth and cemented into place using special dental cement so that it stays solid even when eating and drinking.  

Protecting teeth with large cavity filling or weak spots

 In some cases, the tooth may not actually be broken; it may be severely weakened due to damage from a large filling from a cavity or damage to the root system from having a root canal treatment. In these cases, the dentist may use a crown to help protect the remainder of the tooth from damage and support the chewing and biting surface to make eating easier and pain-free. 

In cases where the tooth is not broken, the cap is fitted to cover the existing tooth instead of shaving the tooth down and then is cemented in place to provide a stable biting surface while the remainder of the tooth underneath is left alone. 

Supporting bridgework and other applications

In cases where a patient doesn’t have the bone or tooth structure to support certain dental applications like bridges or implants, the dentist may use a crown to help anchor the application and give it the proper support it needs to function properly. The crown is usually placed on top of an existing tooth adjacent to where the dental application is going in so that it can act as support without having an impact on the mouth any further. 

These are just a few of the different uses that ad dentist has for a crown.

Request an appointment here: https://designdentistry.com or call Design Dentistry at (360) 928-6050 for an appointment in our Camas office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges in Camas, WA.

Related Posts

Is There A Recovery Period After Getting Dental Crowns?

Patients considering dental crowns may have concerns regarding the recovery period following the procedure. Fortunately, the typical recovery period is relatively quick and involves minor inconvenience. Most risks and complications resulting from the procedure are comparable to those of most dental procedures and therefore require similar precautions.The placement of dental crowns involves two stages, each…

When Is A Dental Crown Necessary?

When there are issues with the teeth, a dentist performs a variety of procedures to treat them, and one is the placement of dental crowns. A crown is a cap that looks like a tooth, and it covers an existing tooth to restore function. A crown protects a tooth and prevents further issues from occurring. A…

A Family Dentist Warns Against Tooth Decay

Like your family doctor, a family dentist should be someone you turn to often to help you maintain good health. The dentist will treat serious oral health conditions and restore the full function of teeth. But the dentist also helps with preventive maintenance. One of the most crucial ways this professional supports you is by…

4 Guidelines To Know If You Are A Candidate For Dental Veneers

If you have some imperfections on your teeth, and you want to improve your smile, dental veneers may be an option. This procedure can help cover up certain dental issues that may reduce your confidence. Although veneers can make aesthetic changes, they are not the right option for everyone. Before considering this as a possibility,…