When a tooth has severe problems, it may need to be replaced with a dental crown. The problem may be an issue with the health of the tooth, or it may be that it has cosmetic problems that you want to fix with a crown. When you need a crown, we offer this service to improve dental health, cosmetic appearance, or both for our patients. A crown is made from a special porcelain that is highly durable and strong. Crowns are made to take a lot of use without showing much wear. However, they may not last forever. Much of the duration of a crown depends on how well it’s cared for.
Getting a Dental Crown
A dental crown can end a severe dental problem, and it can make you happier with the way your smile looks. Many people have more confidence and less dental pain once they get a dental crown. Often, there is a lot of decay on a tooth that will be replaced by a crown. When this is the case, the doctor will first remove the part of the tooth that has decayed. If there is other damage to the tooth, that damage may need to be removed. The top of the tooth will then be reshaped so that it will fit under a crown. This requires making it smaller and smooth enough to hold the crown when it’s fit over the tooth.
When the tooth has been made smaller and smooth, our team will create an impression of it. This will allow the crown to be made to your tooth’s precise measurements for a good fit. Sometimes, however, this may not need to be done. A digital map may be created of the area instead that uses extremely precise measurements to design a crown that fits perfectly. When a one-day crown is made, the smoothing of the tooth, the digital impression, and the creation of the crown can all be done on the same visit.
Once the digital impression is made, the measurements are sent right to a machine that creates the crown in-house. This is a hugely convenient way to get a crown, and it means that you won’t need a temporary crown to wear while your permanent crown is being made. You can instead get your permanent crown installed in as little as under an hour. When the crown is installed, we make sure that you are comfortable at all times. If you want sedation, there are many options that are available to you. Otherwise, you will likely only have local anesthesia to numb the area. There should be no discomfort during the installation process.
We use the CEREC crown system that makes your crowns in one visit. Because these crowns are made with such precision, you likely won’t need any adjustments as are often needed with crowns made from a physical impression. The machine is also excellent at creating a crown that is exactly the right color to match your other teeth. This will make the crown indistinguishable from your other teeth. No one ever has to know it’s a crown.
Dental Crown Durability
Dental crowns are made to be extremely strong, though they may eventually need to be replaced. The average crown lasts for about 15 years. However, taking good care of them can extend their lifespan to as 25 to 30 years or even longer. There are some people who have a crown that does last for the rest of their lives because they make an effort to take good care of their crown. The mouth is a complicated place with a lot going on, and there are a number of factors that go into how long a crown lasts. There are many things that you can do, and avoid doing, to make your crown last longer.
Your oral hygiene habits are an important part of making your crown last. The wear that the crown gets every day is another factor. It’s important to avoid grinding your teeth or clenching them. If you do this while you’re sleeping, have a night guard made for your teeth to keep them from these behaviors. This will not only help with the longevity of your crown, it will help with the longevity of your natural teeth.
It’s also important to take care of your crown by flossing every day and brushing twice per day. When you brush your teeth, take a little time to get the whole area around your crown, particularly at the gum line. This helps you to avoid developing decay in the tooth that is under the crown. You also need to make sure that you don’t use your crown on particularly hard objects like hard candy or ice. This can damage your crowns and your other teeth as well. Never use your teeth like a tool to open packages. You also need to make sure that you get your routine dental checkups. During these appointments, your teeth will be deep cleaned, and this can help your crown to last longer.
If a crown ever becomes cracked or chipped, it will need to be replaced. You will need work done if the natural tooth under the crown becomes decayed. You may need to have the crown removed and to have a root canal done. In many cases, the decay can be taken care of so that you don’t need a root canal, but it often requires getting a new crown. Be sure to keep your crown, and the tooth beneath it, in as good shape as possible.
When you need a dental crown, you can call us at The Center for Family & Implant Dentistry. We’re here to serve you, and we always make sure you’re comfortable and relaxed while you’re here.
