To understand dental crowns, it helps to know more about the anatomy of a tooth. Each tooth can be divided into 2 basic parts: the root and the crown. Teeth needing crowns are usually those that are worn down or decayed, as well as those that need to be covered after root canal or dental implant treatment. By restoring the tooth with a crown, your original tooth shape will be recreated to cover the tooth’s root and prevent it from breaking. Dental crowns can be made to match your own tooth with porcelain, or porcelain fused to resin. The material is often colored to blend in with your natural teeth, so no one will even be able to tell you have a crown.
The main reasons you may need a dental crown include:
- To fill a cavity too large for a filling
- To cover a large filling that is failing, breaking, or leaking
- If your tooth is cracked, severely worn or otherwise weakened
- To cover a tooth treated with a root canal (to protect the restored tooth)
- To improve function and bite for collapsed or worn-down teeth
- If you have had a dental implant, a crown is placed and connected to the dental screw surgically fixed in the jawbone
Can I Get a Filling Instead of a Crown?
A filling is not intended to recreate large portions of the tooth, which is why dentists recommend a crown if there are fragile pieces of your natural tooth remaining. If these teeth do break, it can cause unexpected pain, and more extensive/expensive dental procedures down the road. It could also lead to the need to extract the decayed or broken tooth and place a dental implant in its place along with a dental crown.
If you’re upset about anyone noticing a “fake tooth,” know that Dr. Christine Tenaglia only uses the most recent technology and materials to make crowns. They are matched to look like the rest of your teeth, and you won’t even be able to tell it’s a crown when you look in the mirror!
Contact us online or call us today at (517) 347-6733 to speak with our knowledgeable team and learn more about dental crowns.