March 11, 2020

Why You Should Need a Dental Crown

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth — to cover the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and improve its appearance.

The crowns, when cemented into place, fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.

Why Does Your Tooth Need a Dental Crown?

1. You Have Had Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatments are often used on infected teeth to eliminate the infection and save the tooth. Unfortunately, the process significantly weakens the tooth because the entire tooth’s pulp must be removed. This prevents the need for an extraction, but the tooth is at risk of breaking when exposed to the pressure of daily chewing. Therefore, a dental crown is typically placed after root canal treatment to re-strengthen the tooth and reduce the risk of treatment failure.

2. Heavily Filled Teeth

If one of your teeth gets a large filling, or has been filled multiple times on different sides, the structure of the tooth will be weakened and may need to be strengthened with a crown.

3. The Tooth Has Cracked

Teeth can crack for many reasons, including:
Trauma
Decay
Grinding
Extreme pressure
Like a big filling, this crack becomes a weakness in your tooth, and the more you eat or grind the tooth, the more likely it will shatter completely. If the tooth does shatter, your dentist may be able to rebuild the tooth, but depending on the extent of the damage, the tooth may need to be extracted. If the tooth is rebuilt, you will still need a crown to help prevent future breakage.

If you’re experiencing dental pain or want to improve the overall look of your smile, Wassan Dental Clinic is here to help. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact us today.