A dental crown is a tooth-shaped prosthetic that envelopes a weakened tooth and restores its chewing ability.
At Dynamic Dental Care, Dr. Huish, we recommend the use of dental crowns to repair teeth that are severely decayed or damaged. A dental crown can protect these teeth from further harm and improve the esthetics of your smile.
Applications of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are used for various reasons:
| • | To repair damaged and/or decayed teeth. |
| • | To hold together fractured teeth and restore their function and shape. |
| • | To fix teeth that have been eroded due to teeth grinding or bruxism. |
| • | To replace old dental fillings. |
| • | To cover atop a dental implant. |
| • | To support a dental bridge. |
| • | To restore functionality in teeth that have undergone root canal therapy. |
Dental Crowns for Endodontic Treatment
Teeth that have undergone pulpectomy or a root canal treatment are weakened. The procedure involves making a small hole in the tooth and removing the infected soft tissue in the tooth chamber. The tooth is then filled and sealed closed to prevent re-infection.
Such teeth need to be protected with a dental crown. We will place a dental crown on top of your prepared tooth to restore its shape, size, and chewing ability.
Dental Crowns for Implant Treatment
Dental implant treatment involves placing a titanium screw-like prosthetic into an empty tooth socket. This device replaces the tooth root and provides a solid foundation for an artificial tooth.
Once the dental implant has fused with the jawbone, we will place a dental crown on top of it. Dental implant treatment has a very high success rate and can last for decades.
Dental Crowns for Dental Bridges
Traditional dental bridges require dental crowns on either side of the gap to anchor it in place. At Dynamic Dental Care, we can recommend a dental bridge that can fill the gap in your mouth in a conservative way.
Dental Crown Materials
Dental crowns can be made from various materials.
| • | Metal-based dental crowns include gold alloy and silver amalgam crowns. Gold crowns have been known to last for up to 40 years. Silver amalgam crowns can last for over 25 years. Because of the strength of such crowns, they are used to restore back teeth. |
| • | Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns consist of porcelain crowns with a metal base. These crowns can last for up to 25 years and are good options for back teeth. They are also more esthetic-looking than metal-only crowns. |
| • | Porcelain: Porcelain crowns are the most esthetically-pleasing crown since porcelain mimics the light-reflecting properties of enamel. These crowns can last for up to 15 years and are good options for front teeth. |
There are also composite resin crowns, though they are not very strong. In addition, we may also use stainless steel crowns as temporary crowns or to protect a child’s primary teeth from decay.
If you have a tooth cavity, getting it restored with the help of a dental crown can save the life of your teeth. Call us today at (509) 466-2587 for a consultation so that we can determine the health of your teeth and create a personalized treatment plan for you.