Restore Your Smile With Dental Crowns: What You Should Know

Restoring a smile does not need to be complicated; in fact, a dental crown makes tooth repair simple in many cases. From chips and cracks to restoring damage from cavities, it can serve as a new biting surface for the tooth. Since it can mimic natural tooth material, other people will not be able to tell that you have had a crown placed. It is also an outpatient procedure, so you can work a dental crown installation into your otherwise busy day!

If you are considering a crown as an option for restoring your smile, you should be fully informed about the process ahead of time. Here is what to know.

Understanding how dental crowns can restore a smile

A dental crown is a type of cap placed over a damaged tooth. Unlike a filling, which fills a hole in the tooth, a dental crown replaces the exterior surface to create a new biting area.

The dental crown process

Getting a dental crown is a longer process than getting a filling, but that is mostly due to the wait time. The dentist will take a mold of the patient’s mouth so the crown correctly matches the patient’s existing bite. Then, they will send the mold to a fabricator, which will custom-craft the crown to match the mold. Unless the dentist has an in-office fabrication service for same-day crowns, this process should take a week or two.

Once the crown is ready, the patient will return, and the dentist will remove any excess enamel that is in the way of the crown placement. This ensures that the cap fits appropriately over the delicate center of the tooth to protect it. The dentist affixes the cap to the exposed tooth using dental cement, forming a new surface.

The impact of dental crowns on the smile

Dental crowns can restore a smile that has been impacted by tooth cracks, chips, etc. In some cases, crowns can even help minimize gaps between teeth. Many people will get a crown if they have had more than one cavity in a tooth, as drilling into the tooth repeatedly can weaken it and cause it to fall apart. A crown holds the tooth together while repairing this damage.

Once the crown is placed, it blends in seamlessly with the other teeth. Patients will not need to worry that their smile contains a noticeable restoration, as crowns are translucent and color-matched to the patient’s own smile as part of fabrication.

Do dental crowns last?

While dental crowns are strong, they may still need replacement eventually. Many people enjoy their crowns for years or even decades with no problems. The good news is that fixing a crown or having it replaced is also simple and requires the same mold process as the first time. Brushing and flossing around the crown, just like with a natural tooth, is the best way to keep it in good condition for a long time.