Tooth Crowns

Dental crowns are in effect a form of implant that is designed to go over the top of a tooth and protect it. Aside from fillings, crowns are one of the most commonly performed dental procedures. It’s a procedure that’s relatively painless and well tolerated.

Often used to cover-up large dental cavities, the procedure for installing tooth crowns is quite major as it involves first cleaning the tooth and taking a dental impression. The dentist then creates an individual crown which can be made out of metal, porcelain or even gold, which is then cemented in place using dental cement.

While there are many medical (dental) reasons to choose tooth crowns, it’s also a service that’s used quite often to correct poorly shaped teeth and make them look more cosmetically appealing. The popularity of gold crowns and the likes speaks for themselves and while indeed, many dental crowns tend to be fairly expensive, basic crowns used for restorative dentistry i.e. to stop further decay / damage can be relatively inexpensive in comparison.

Today, dental crowns are used mostly to treat fractured teeth or to cover up a decayed tooth after it’s been treated with a dental root canal. In the event of a root canal, the dentist removes the top of the tooth and all the tissue inside the tooth, filling it with a dental filling. To finish the procedure, a crown is added to reinforce the tooth structure.

It’s a procedure that’s carried out worldwide and nowadays many dental crowns are made using computer aided design / modeling. As a result, it’s possible to create tooth crowns which are virtually an exact fit and almost invisible thanks to computer technology.  Dental crowns when fitted correctly can last well in excess of a decade – meaning that while they can be expensive, over time they really do pay for themselves.

Cosmetically, crowns are often used to repair smiles and fix major problems with teeth that weren’t fixed during child-hood. With the use of crowns, it’s possible to re-create the perfect smile and thanks to ceramic materials, that’s a glistening white smile that will last for decades with the right care.

When it comes to caring for tooth crowns it’s much like caring for your regular teeth. Regular cleaning and checkups are essential in preventing wear and discoloration. Just like plaque and tarter form on teeth, it can also form on your crown. Because of this, good dental hygiene is essential to prevent the spread of bacteria and infection.

Dentists use crowns to repair and protect teeth from all sorts of damage. From chipped teeth to root canals and even major cavities, crowns might be seen as being highly expensive, but they are an essential part of dentistry and they will protect your teeth against damage and decay. While it is indeed a major dental procedure because it involves altering the natural tooth so that a tooth crown can be fitted, it’s relatively painless and it can be done at any dentist’s practice.