What are the Benefits of Dental Crown?
Dental crowns offer numerous benefits to patients. They provide support and protection to a tooth that a filling cannot completely restore. Crowns can improve a damaged tooth’s strength, function, and longevity by holding it together and preventing further cracking or breakage. They also restore the natural appearance of the tooth, giving it a natural, tooth-like shape and color that blends seamlessly with adjacent teeth. Additionally, crowns can correct minor bite issues when a tooth’s positioning needs adjustment.
What Can Crowns Help Correct?
While dental crowns commonly repair and strengthen teeth damaged by decay, fractures, or large fillings, they can also help correct various other dental problems. Crowns can attach to bridges, protect a weak tooth from breaking, restore a fractured tooth, cover and complete a dental implant, or improve the appearance of discolored or misshapen teeth. With their tooth-like look and durability, dental crowns offer restorative and cosmetic dentistry solutions in one versatile treatment.
What to Expect When Getting a Dental Crown
The procedure for a crown starts with identifying the extent of damage to a tooth via X-ray. Sometimes, our doctors will recommend fabricating a crown for a tooth that has an existing filling if it is large or wearing down. If the tooth has extensive decay that has reached the nerve canal or if an abscess has formed, a root canal is necessary before a crown can be placed.
Fabricating a crown takes place in two visits to our office. At the first visit, depending on the remaining tooth structure, one of our doctors will build the tooth up with composite material, similar to filling a cavity. The tooth is then shaped around the perimeter to create space between the surrounding teeth. While waiting for the lab to fabricate the final crown, a temporary is placed to protect the tooth.
At the second visit, the crown is fitted and cemented. Follow-up visits may be necessary to ensure the crown fits properly and does not cause other issues in your mouth. At first, the crown may feel foreign in your mouth. As you adjust, it will feel and function like all your other teeth. Good, consistent oral hygiene is important to maintain the crown. Although crowns effectively prevent further damage, poor maintenance can allow decay to form below the gumline or under the crown.
How to Care for Your Dental Crown
Proper care and maintenance of your dental crowns are essential to ensure their longevity and your overall oral health. Brush your crowned teeth twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, cleaning where the crown meets the gumline. Floss once daily to remove plaque and food particles between the crown and surrounding teeth. Avoid biting on hard objects like ice, nuts, or bones, as this can crack or dislodge the crown. If you grind or clench your teeth at night, wear a nightguard to protect your crowns from excessive wear. See your dentist regularly for cleanings and exams to check the condition of your crowns and have them polished if needed. With good oral hygiene habits and preventative dental care, your dental crowns can last 10-15 years before requiring replacement.
Dental Crowns in Spirit Lake, Iowa
If you need a dental crown in the Spirit Lake, Iowa, area, look no further than Hill Avenue Dental. Don’t let dental issues compromise your smile or oral health. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Darren Dotson or Dr. Amy Hartzell and explore the benefits of dental crowns in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Our dedicated team is committed to providing exceptional dental care and helping you achieve a beautiful, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime.
