What is a dental crown?
Dental crowns, also known as caps, are used to restore a tooth’s function and appearance when its structural integrity is compromised, by either decay or fracture, beyond what a dental filling, inlay or onlay can repair.
After taking a digital scan of your tooth (no more goopy impression material), utilizing CAD/CAM technology, our doctors will design a custom crown to be made and placed in your mouth during one visit to our office.
When your dental crown is placed our doctors will instruct you to move your jaw and bite down in various directions typically using a piece of transfer paper that records each movement. This process is to check your bite to ensure your teeth come together (occlusion) evenly and if needed our doctors will make necessary adjustments to ensure a comfortable functional bite.
While you are getting used to your new tooth you may find that your bite feels “off” there are two common reasons for this feeling:
- Your old tooth was not in proper occlusion, meaning it was causing your bite forces to be unevenly distributed which can be the reason teeth fracture and for you to experience painful TMJ symptoms. Your newly crowned tooth was designed with proper occlusion and optimal function of your bite in mind, and your jaw muscles need to adjust to this “new” biting feeling.
- If after some time adjusting to your new tooth and bite, you continue feeling like your bite is not quite right you may need to come back to our office for a bite adjustment. On the day your dental crown was fitted the area around the tooth being treated was numbed, because of this when the doctor was asking about your bite, you may not have felt the same sensations when biting down as you will once the numbing wore off.
What are some common reasons you may need a dental crown?
Broken or fractured teeth. A dental crown can restore strength and function and distribute the biting forces evenly preventing further damage to the tooth’s roots and potentially surrounding teeth.
Restore large areas of decay. When a cavity covers a larger portion of your tooth your tooth may need the additional structural support of the full coverage from a dental crown than the partial coverage of a filling, inlay or onlay is able to provide.
Replace large existing fillings. Replacing a filling requires removal of the existing large filling and some of the tooth structure the filling has bonded to, for an already larger filling your tooth may require additional support from a dental crown than a new filling, inlay or onlay can provide to prevent from fracturing under the biting forces of your jaw.
After root canal therapy. When a tooth has a root canal a hole is made into the top to access and treat the root. The hole both compromises the strength of your tooth and provides access for harmful bacteria to travel into your jawbone and through your blood stream. A crown, sometimes along with a post, will provide the needed structural support for your tooth and seal the hole preventing bacteria from entering.
Securing a bridge into your mouth. A dental bridge relies on the structural support of surrounding teeth to firmly fix in your mouth, by utilizing dental crowns spanning the area of missing teeth to hold the replacement teeth in place.
Cover dental implants. Also known as an implant crown. A dental implant mimics the root of a natural tooth, and a dental crown attaches on top to replace the missing tooth.
Esthetic dentistry. Dental crowns can be used for cosmetic purposes using digital technology. Our doctors can design the shape and color of each crown to give you the natural looking beautiful smile you have been dreaming of.