Dental crowns are a staple within restorative dentistry. They can be used to repair, restore, and replace teeth.
The materials used to make modern dental crowns provide the added benefit of being quite similar to natural teeth in appearance. Dental crowns also are able to function much like real teeth so you can continue to eat the foods that you like to eat.
Dental crowns are one of the many services we offer at our dentist office in Winnipeg, MB. If you would like to learn more about dental crowns, we welcome you to make an appointment at Lakewood Dental Centre by calling 204-977-8515 or by contacting us online.
We look forward to helping you however we can.
4 Ways That Dental Crowns Are Used
Below you will find an explanation of various ways that dental crowns can be used. Primarily, dental crowns are used for restorative dentistry, but they can have some cosmetic benefits as well.
◼︎ Repairing Broken, Chipped, Or Worn Down Teeth
It’s not unusual for something to happen to one or more of your teeth over the course of your life.
You could bite into something like a popcorn kernel or a piece of hard candy that causes a bit of your tooth to chip off. You could injure yourself in a hockey game or fall while making repairs around the house and break one of your teeth.
It’s also possible for a tooth or teeth to become worn down over time.
These are all situations when a dental crown may be the best option to restore your tooth to its original shape and size.
The first step is reshaping the tooth by removing the parts that have been damaged. This creates a support for your dental crown. When the crown is bonded in place, your “tooth” could look as good as it ever did.
◼︎ Fixing A Tooth With A Cavity
Tooth decay is a common problem for a good reason. The bacteria that cause tooth decay are already inside our mouths. They just need an opportunity to start eating into a tooth to create a cavity.
Ideally, you would visit the dentist for routine cleanings and examinations. This makes it more likely that we will spot the cavity in the early stages when it can be treated with a dental filling.
However, if the cavity grows too large, then a dental crown may be a better option for saving and repairing the tooth. The process is similar to what we described above. The tooth will be reshaped. The dental crown will be bonded in place to restore the appearance of your smile and the function of your tooth.
◼︎ Completing Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is an effective way to save an infected tooth. This kind of infection can develop from untreated tooth decay, gum disease, or injuries that expose the inside of the tooth to bacteria.
If the pulp at the middle of your teeth becomes infected, that can be painful. Root canal therapy is the means by which we can remove the infected tissue from your tooth.
To do this, your dentist will create an opening in the tooth. He or she will remove the pulp along with the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth. Then it will be filled and sealed. In some cases, a dental filling is enough to seal the tooth. In other cases, a dental crown is a better option to restore the appearance and function of the tooth.
◼︎ Replacing A Lost Tooth
From a cosmetic standpoint, losing a tooth can affect your smile. In the short-term, you may have a visible gap between your teeth. In the long-term, your teeth could “drift,” which can affect both the appearance of your smile and how well you can bite or chew food.
Replacing the missing tooth is a good way to bring back your smile and to protect the natural teeth that you still have. One way to do this is by placing a dental crown on a dental implant.
Dental implants are replacements for the roots of your missing teeth. These implants can be placed into your jawbone to provide support for your dental crown. When the crown is attached to the implant, you will have a full replacement for the missing, lost, or extracted tooth.
Do You Have Questions About Dental Crowns?
If so, then we welcome you to contact our dentists in Winnipeg, MB. You can make an appointment by calling 204-977-8515, or you can contact us with our online form.