Capabilities of Dental Crowns
Crowns are one of the most well known and utilized dental restorations available. They allow dentists to restore the shape and size of a tooth under almost any circumstance. They are built to last with durable materials like porcelain or porcelain bonded to gold that also mimic the exact shade of your natural teeth. If you’re one of the millions of dental patients who have had a crown placed, you’re well versed in their capabilities. However, if a crown has been recently recommended to restore your smile, there are a few things you should know.
What are Crowns?
Crowns are dental restorations designed to replace a single tooth or become part of a bridge. They are made out of many durable materials that have been time tested to look and function just as natural teeth. Crowns have been used in dentistry for thousands of years. Four thousands years ago in Luzon, an ancient civilization in the Philippines, gold crowns were used to both cosmetically adorn the teeth as well as improve the function of broken teeth. Gold and other precious metals were used for many years to replace missing, broken, or severely decayed teeth because of they were pliable enough to shape into a tooth, yet strong enough to function as one as well. These days porcelain is commonly pained over the gold crowns, or is used by itself because of the superior aesthetics. It is rare to see gold or silver used as a crown, although it is still an option in some dental practices.
What Can Crowns Do?
Because crowns restore the entire tooth above the gum line, they have many applications. A common use of a crown is to replace a tooth that has severe decay. If your Melbourne, Florida dentist were to fill it as if it were simply a large cavity, the ratio of tooth to filling would compromise the strength of the tooth. A crown could replace the whole tooth and restore both function and aesthetics. Crowns can also be used to restore a tooth after it has broken due to dental trauma. If a large portion of a tooth is broken off not only will it be painful due to nerve exposure, but it will also make it more difficult to eat. By placing a crown over the broken portion of the tooth, you can easily repair the tooth and restore its function. Crowns can also be placed for cosmetic reasons. If you have discolored or misshapen teeth, a skilled dentist can craft a crown that will cover the unsightly teeth – making them more pleasing to the eye – while fortifying their strength and improving their main function. Another common application of a crown is to cap a dental implant. After a dental implant has healed, your Melbourne, Florida dentist can place a perfectly shaped and shaded crown. This, once again, restores your smile in more ways than one. Crowns are also commonly used in bridgework. Attached to abutment teeth crowns can connect multiple dental restorations and allow a patient to live without pain and smile without embarrassment.
How are Crowns Placed?
Placing a crown often takes two visits. The first appointment will consist of readying the existing tooth for replacement. This often involves removing decay and reshaping the tooth and is followed by a placement of a temporary crown that will enable the patient to function normally until the permanent crown is placed. After this appointment your Melbourne, Florida dentist will send a prescription for your crown to a lab where it will be created to her specifications. At the second appointment, Dr. Brazdo will fit, adjust, a bond the crown to the remaining root of the tooth – or dental implant. After this appointment, your dental work will be undetectable and you can return to normal with a new and improved smile.
If a crown has been recommended to you by your Melbourne, Florida dentist don’t hesitate to ask questions. Dr. Brazdo will do everything she can to ensure her patients are educated and on-board with their treatments.