All The Ways A Dental Crown Can Save Your Tooth

No matter if you’re a child with damaged teeth caused by tooth decay or an elderly patient hoping to save a cracked tooth, dental crowns can work wonders for damaged teeth. In fact, the main purpose of a dental crown is to support, protect, and repair a tooth.

At First Dental Associates, our experienced and friendly team regularly repairs smiles by using dental crowns. They’re pretty significant, powerful little “helpers” which is why we believe you should learn a little more about them and find out if they can help your smile as well.

What Is A Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a “cap” in the shape of a tooth that covers a tooth to restore its size, shape, and durability while improving its appearance. When put in place, a crown fully covers the portion of your tooth that is visible among your gumline.

At First Dental Associates in Reading, MA we use all-ceramic crowns. Our dental crowns include zirconia, e.max, and Lava which are popular because of their translucent appearance. Because they’re translucent, these dental crowns will closely match the look of your natural teeth so it won’t be obvious that you have a “cap” over your tooth.

Our all-ceramic crowns are also different in that they don’t have a metal foundation, making them ideal for front teeth.

How Is A Dental Crown Used?

Dental crowns are most commonly used to:

• Protect a weakened tooth from further damage
• Restore a broken tooth or a tooth severely worn down
• Cover and stabilize a tooth with a large filling
• Hold a dental bridge in place
• Cover severely discolored or misshapen teeth
• Cover a dental implant
• Improve the appearance of a tooth

Dental crowns can even be used on a child’s baby teeth to save a decaying tooth that is unable to support a filling or protect the teeth of a child with a higher risk for tooth decay.

Preparing Your Tooth For A Dental Crown

As with most dental procedures, there are several steps involved in the treatment process. Fortunately, the process for a dental crown is relatively simple and straightforward.

During your first appointment, we’ll go over any issues you’re experiencing and your goals for the treatment process. We might need to take an X-ray to look at the roots of your the tooth getting the crown as well as the surrounding bone.

If the tooth has decayed or if there is a risk of infection or injury to the pulp of the tooth, we may need to perform a root canal first.

Before we start any actual treatment on your tooth, we will make sure you’re completely comfortable using local anesthetic and any of our additional comfort options, if necessary. A local anesthetic will numb your tooth and gum tissue around the tooth so you won’t feel a thing.

Once the area is completely numb, we will prepare the tooth by removing some of the enamel along the sides and the chewing surface to allow for a proper fit for the crown. If necessary, we will use a filling material to strengthen the tooth so it’s able to support the crown.

Once your tooth is reshaped, we’ll make an impression or take scans of the tooth that we’ll use to make the crown. Those will then be sent to a lab where your customized crown will be made and color-matched to your natural teeth.

We will send you home with a temporary crown to cover and protect your tooth until your crown is ready. Once the lab makes your crown and it arrives at our office, you’ll come back for your second and final appointment.

During your second visit, the temporary crown will be removed and the crown will be affixed to your tooth with cement after making sure everything looks the way it should.

Learn More About Dental Crowns Today!

Don’t wait another day to call our Reading, MA office if you think you could benefit from a dental crown. We’re ready and excited to repair and enhance your smile. Call (781) 435-7290 or fill out our online form. Our friendly staff members are looking forward to your call!