How Your Dentist Uses a Dental Crown

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://www.michianafamilydental.com or call Michiana Family Dental at (574) 349-2073 for an appointment in our South Bend office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Google: Dental Crown in South Bend, IN.

Recent Posts

How Long Will A Dental Crown Last?

A dental crown is used to restore teeth that are in bad shape. Oftentimes, they are needed for teeth that have become cracked, chipped or broken. Additionally, general dentists recommend them for teeth that have severely decayed due to an infection. While they are one of the most common dental restorations, many wonder how long…

What Happens During A Dental Crown Procedure

A cosmetic dentist can use a dental crowns to improve your dental health. A tooth with severe decay or discoloration can be depressing. The infection could reach the pulp at any time. Placing a custom-fit dental crown can protect your tooth from further damage and injury. If you want to know more about the steps…

How A Dental Crown Is Used For A Damaged Tooth

A dental crown is a device used to restore the functions and look of a tooth that has been damaged. If you need a root canal, a fractured tooth, or a big filling, your dentist may also decide to place a dental crown. The new crown covers the part of the tooth visible above the…

How Dental Fillings Can Fix A Broken Tooth

A fractured, chipped, or broken tooth occurs when patients have a crack in the tooth. Some cracks may appear small, but others may cause a break or split within the tooth structure. Most people can suffer a tooth break, but the most common demographics include children and older adults. To fix the tooth, some patients…

Michiana Family Dental

Share
Published by
Michiana Family Dental

Recent Posts

What You Need to Know About Partial Dentures

Anyone who has been considering getting partials to improve their speech, ability to chew, and…

3 weeks ago

How Dental Fillings Can Fix a Broken Tooth

When patients have broken teeth, they should receive dental care as soon as possible to…

2 months ago

How Denture Adjustment Is Done

Denture adjustment is a necessary procedure that must be performed if your dentures no longer…

3 months ago

What Dental Issues Does Invisalign Treat?

Using custom-fit plastic trays, Invisalign® treatments are a restorative and corrective treatment for several dental…

4 months ago

Signs You May Need an Emergency Dentist Visit

If you want to know if you may need an emergency dental visit, here are…

5 months ago

Ask a Family Dentist: What Happens If You Never See the Dentist?

People can benefit from visiting a family dentist regularly. This is crucial for the maintenance…

6 months ago