If you’ve had extensive dental work done in the past, you probably have a few metal crowns to show for it. Thanks to technological advancements in restorative and cosmetic dentistry, dentists are now able to offer porcelain and ceramic dental crowns, which are a far more attractive option for patients who have extensive tooth damage and still want a beautiful white smile. But what exactly is the purpose of dental crowns?
The Purpose Of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are used to “cap” teeth that have undergone dental restoration, whether that be a root canal procedure or a tooth that has been cracked, broken apart, or severely worn down. In these cases, the purpose of dental crowns is to cover up and protect the natural tooth, which would otherwise be susceptible to additional fractures and/or further tooth decay.After a root canal, for example, your dentist will place a white tooth crown over your natural tooth, which would otherwise become weak and brittle over time. The same goes for instances where the natural teeth are severely damaged or decayed but can still be saved — dental crowns are one option to consider if you want to restore the functionality of your teeth and avoid getting dental implants or dentures down the road.
Dental crowns are also used to cover up and hold several types of dental restorations in place, including dental bridges and dental implants. At Constitution Dental, we only resort to tooth extraction if the natural tooth can’t be saved, as is often the case for patients with extreme tooth decay. If you have teeth that need to be extracted, or you already have one or more missing teeth, our dentists might recommend dental implants or an implant-supported restoration, such as a dental bridge.
Also known as “denture implants,” dental bridges are implemented when a patient is missing one or more of their natural teeth. A dental implant is placed where the missing tooth was, and it is then restored, or “capped,” with a dental implant that looks exactly like a healthy, natural tooth. Edentulous patients (patients who are missing all of their teeth on one or both arches in the mouth) can also benefit from dental restoration in the form of full dental implants. Essentially, this means that titanium posts are inserted where the missing teeth once were, then the tooth implants are restored with a white dental crown. The end result is a brand new smile that is both beautiful and functional.
How Are Dental Crowns Placed?
If you are about to have a restorative dental procedure done, you’ll likely have to make two appointments at your local dental clinic. This is because dental crowns are placed in two separate sessions, with the first one being a temporary crown, and the second one being the permanent crown that was created in a dental lab.
During your first appointment, your dentist will prepare your tooth by grinding it down so it’ll fit on top of the natural tooth. Any existing tooth decay is also removed during this phase, as you won’t want bacteria building up and eating away at the tooth underneath the dental crown. Then, your dentist will take an impression of the tooth, which will act as the model for the permanent dental crown. Finally, they’ll cap the tooth with a temporary dental crown, which you’ll have for just a week or two until the permanent crown is ready.
When you visit your family dentist for your second appointment, they’ll replace the temporary crown with the permanent one, making any necessary adjustments before permanently securing it to the natural tooth. Before you know it, you’ll be able to talk, eat, and chew normally again, and no one will know you have a dental crown!
Visit Our Dental Clinic In Downtown Ottawa
If you need to schedule a restorative dentistry procedure that involves dental crowns, such as dental implants or implant-supported restorations, contact our team at Constitution Dental in Downtown Ottawa. We would be more than happy to set up an appointment!