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Should a dental crown ever be used as a means to improve the appearance of a tooth?
We do not recommend using a dental crown simply to restore the appearance of a tooth. While it is true that a crown does look like a natural tooth, an alternative to a dental crown should be used if only cosmetic improvements to the tooth are called for.
The reason for this is due to the fact that dentists have to reshape a tooth before crowning it. This involves grinding a portion of the tooth away. Many times, a significant amount of tooth mass must be removed in order to make the tooth suitable for crowning. This defeats the purpose of tooth repair in a way, because it is actually taking away a portion of the tooth only to make it look better.
If you simply want to improve the appearance of your teeth, there are alternatives to dental crowns that can be just as effective in upgrading their cosmetic appearance. Some examples of these alternatives to crowns include porcelain veneer, dental bonding, or professional teeth whitening services.
Could you describe briefly what each of these cosmetic dental restorations do? Yes.
Porcelain veneers are thin ceramic sheets that we bond to your front teeth. They do an excellent job of covering pits and discoloration in the tooth enamel.
Dental bonding can be used to treat teeth that have suffered minor decay or have been damaged by small cracks.
Professional tooth whitening is used to restore the color of stained teeth. This procedure is excellent for those who have smoked or drank a lot of coffee over the years and watched their teeth grow yellow.
Is a dental filling a good alternative to placing a dental crown?
We do not recommend using the traditional silver-mercury amalgam fillings. They are not biofriendly per se, and they will fall out after several years.
Small cavities can be filled with dental bonding. The determining factor here is the remaining amount of original tooth mass that exists after decay is removed. The tooth must be able to withstand normal chewing and biting.
Should I have the tooth extracted?
No. Removing a tooth will cause problems for surrounding teeth, which need it for support. Dental implants are the ideal cosmetic and functional solution for teeth that have been lost or that are too far gone to save, but they are not recommended options for those who simply want to improve the appearance of one or two teeth in the front of their mouth.
So when do I need a dental crown?
If the tooth is actually damaged and can no longer function as an implement of biting and chewing, or if decay threatens the root and a root canal has to be performed, that is when we crown the tooth to both seal it against future infection and improve its cosmetic virtue.Labels: alternatives to dental crowns, benefits of cosmetic porcelain dental crowns, crowns
Many times, when we encounter a filling fails, we recommend restoring that failed filling with a dental crown. This is the often best way to protect a tooth. A filling is not going to protect and strengthen a tooth as much as a crown will.
Can you replace a filling with something else?
We can replace a filling with another filling. However, the constant refilling of teeth can weaken them. This is because more tooth structure must be removed each time a tooth is filled. The larger the filling is; the weaker your tooth becomes, and the more vulnerable it will be to cracking or breaking off.
Can’t you use composite dental resin?
Yes, but keep in mind that a very large hole in your tooth may need more than cosmetic dental resin can fix.
How do you know when replacing a failed filling can only be done with a crown?
If there is sufficient tooth mass to support normal biting and chewing, and if we do not have to remove a great deal of this to refill the tooth, we will use cosmetic dental resin. However, like we have already said, the danger here is no matter how good the resin does the trick, there will be insufficient tooth mass remaining to support normal biting and chewing.
In order to determine if we need to replace the filling with resin, or replace the filling with a crown, we have to thoroughly examine the tooth and make and accurate assessment of its current viability. A tooth that is clearly not going to make it with a new filling alone is going to need to be crowned.
This is not to say that cosmetic resin may not be used for a procedure such as a core buildup, but the exterior or the tooth will still be crowned to protect what is left of its enamel and dentin.
What other benefits does replacing a failed filling with a dental crown offer?
It seals the tooth. It keeps out plaque and bacteria. It also enhances cosmetic appeal by restoring the shape and the strength of the tooth.
What types of crowns do you use?
There are gold crowns still in use that many people like because they are very easy on opposing teeth (due to the softness of gold itself). There are also porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns which are very strong, but which are beginning to be phased out for newer forms of all porcelain crowns that look nearly identical to tooth enamel and are so hard they can handle all the normal pressures of daily chewing and biting without breaking or cracking.
How long does it take to replace a filling?
Normally, it takes two appointments to restore your tooth with a crown. During the first appointment, we have to remove what is left of the old filling and any decay that may have ensued since its failure. We also have to take impressions of your teeth to send to the dental lab that will make your new dental crown.
When the crown is ready, we will call you back to our office and fit your tooth with the crown. Labels: benefits of cosmetic porcelain dental crowns, dental fillings
How does root canal therapy affect a tooth?
A root canal will leave a tooth brittle and weak. We recommend a root canal crown that will strengthen, cover, and protect the tooth.
This is needed because the inner pulp layer of the tooth is where all the nerves and blood vessels are located. Much of the tooth’s blood supply is lost when we have to remove the infected tooth pulp during the root canal. There is also less support for the tooth because the center has been removed, and only the sides remain.
Your tooth is more likely to break when you bite down on food. Even when you are eating a normal diet, the pressure of biting and chewing place a tremendous amount of force on teeth. Already in weakened, state, brittle teeth are more likely to crack and break if they are not protected by a root canal crown.
What types of root canal crowns do you use?
We can make crowns out of gold, porcelain-fused-to-metal, and all porcelain. All porcelain crowns are the most popular because they look nearly identical to natural teeth.
Which teeth should receive a crown when root canal therapy is done?
Most root canal crowns are placed on back teeth. Some front teeth can be treated by a filling. This are general principles, however, not hard-fast guidelines.
Can a root canal and a crown placed on top be done during the same visit?
No. It can take a minimum of three visits to our office to finish a root canal and then later crown the tooth. There are normally many steps to this process, listed below, which illustrate why this process takes some time.
1. We first go through the crown of the tooth to access the infected pulp chamber.
2. We removed the tooth pulp.
3. We then clean, enlarge, and shape the root canals so they will accept the filling material.
4. If harmful bacteria are present, we will treat the root canal with medication.
5. Many times we place a temporary filling in the tooth we wait for the infection to clear up.
6. When you return to our office, we remove the temporary filling and the root canals are filled with permanent filling.
7. We take impression of your teeth, and we have a dental lab custom make a crown for your tooth.
8. When your crown is ready, we then shape and polish it.
How long do crowns last?
Crowns can last a very long time, depending on how well their owners treat them. Remember that a crown Closeup of crown covers a living tooth. This means that the tooth is still susceptible to decay. Plaque can form at the bottom of the crown and decay can work its way under the crown. Gum disease can just worsen this problem. The way to keep your crown as long as possible is to brush and floss the crown's base carefully. Getting periodic checkups helps make sure the crown, tooth and gum tissue around it stay in good shape, too.
Labels: benefits of cosmetic porcelain dental crowns, dental crowns, root canals
What is margin decay?
It is tooth decay that begins where the tooth meets the crown. This is one of the hardest places for you to keep free of bacteria and plaque.
Why does it happen?
This can happen for many reasons. A crown does not completely cover the tooth. Bacteria can still affect the small margin of uncovered root surface at the bottom. This usually results from inadequate oral hygiene. Gum inflammation is common when this occurs.
Decay can also occur under the crown itself. Bacteria can enter under the margin and spread over the remainder of the tooth. The key to stopping this is to floss between teeth so all plaque is removed. Using a toothpick gently is a good way to get pieces of food out of crown margins as well.
There are times that decay starts because the cement bond deteriorates and saliva leaks in. This can carry bacteria under the surface of the crown and cause plaque to form on the tooth. This is a challenging situation, because even dental x-rays cannot always see the decay.
Does it need to be treated immediately?
Yes. This is not something you ever want to put off. If you do, the decay will grow under the crown. First, the decay will penetrate the outer layer of the tooth enamel and eat away at the tooth dentin. Bacteria will infect the dentin, which is much softer and more sensitive than tooth enamel. Once the decay completely moves through the dentin into the pulp chamber, the decay will attack the tooth’s root.
At this point you will need a root canal to save the tooth, or the tooth itself will be completely lost. Do not let this happen.
If margin decay occurs at the base of the crown or under the crown, how will I ever know if I have it?
If you feel tooth sensitivity, or if your crown feels lose, call us immediately for an appointment. If nothing appears out of the ordinary, you need to schedule periodic checkups and appointments for dental cleaning with us. Anyone with bridges or crowns needs to have professional checkups performed regularly because some things, like margin decay, can only be detected with a professional examination.
If margin decay is found, how do you treat it?
If the crown is located on the facial or lingual surface and is not extensive, we may can treat the tooth without removing the crown. A simple filling may be all that is necessary.
However, it is only the rare occasion where we are able to do this.
In most cases, we have to remove the crown and work on your tooth. Seldom can we preserve the crown for reuse. We have to have a new one made for you to make sure that any margin for future decay has been completely minimized. Labels: benefits of cosmetic porcelain dental crowns, dental crowns, margin decay, tooth decay
What is a cracked tooth?
It is a fracture that involves the entire tooth, from the chewing surface all the way down to the nerve. Such a fracture may or may not result in the tooth actually splitting. It does not matter in one sense, because a cracked tooth genuinely HURTS when you have one.
The most important thing to realize is that you have to do something. Teeth do not heal themselves the way bones do.
Crowning a cracked tooth or filling it with dental composite resin are the only two ways to really deal with the problem. In most cases, crowning a cracked tooth is the better option because this prevents the crack from spreading and worsening. It also prevents the tooth from splitting in two and keeps out bacteria that can cause infection.
Why do teeth crack?
You can get a cracked tooth from many different things. The pressure of daily biting and chewing is one of these. Another is the aging process. Chewing on something like ice or hard candy can also crack a tooth.
If you have had a root canal on a tooth, or if you have had a cavity in a tooth, your tooth may have lost sufficient mass to resist normal daily pressures and crack as a result. You can also suffer a fracture in your tooth enamel as the result of an accident.
Crowning a cracked tooth is generally the only option in the latter three examples because there is insufficient tooth mass for a filling alone to restore.
How do I know if I have a cracked tooth?
You will feel a sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures. Sometimes you may also feel a sensitivity to sweet or sour foods. You may also feel a sharp pain when you chew. An almost sure sign of a crack in your tooth is pain that comes and goes.
How can I be sure this has happened?
Come to our office and get a full dental examination. It is important that you seek professional help early on before the situation worsens. If the crack reaches the nerve and infects it, you are looking at a certain root canal and possibly even losing the tooth to extraction.
We will take x-rays and analyze your bite, so that we can conclusively diagnose the presence of a fracture and let us know if crowning your cracked tooth or simply repairing it with composite resin is the best way to go.
If we do recommend crowning a cracked tooth to a patient, there are three types of dental crowns we can use. There are gold crowns, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, and porcelain crowns.
It's important to evaluate and treat cracks as soon as possible because they can grow quickly. If a crack reaches the tooth's nerve, bacteria can infect the tooth, and root canal therapy may be required to save it. If the crack extends to the root, the tooth may need to be extracted.
Is crowning a cracked tooth necessary in every instance?
If it is only a hairline cracked, called a “craze line,” and if the dentist diagnoses it as harmless, no. You need a checkup, however, to determine this.Labels: benefits of cosmetic porcelain dental crowns, cracked teeth
Tooth damage can result from an accident or from runaway tooth decay. If neglected, this can cause subsequent tooth loss and create social awkwardness with a diminished smile.
Houston cosmetic dentists at the Medical Center Dental Group can resolve both of these issues at once by placing a porcelain crown on the tooth. This restores your ability to chew with that tooth, and it makes the tooth appear identical to natural surrounding teeth.
This is due largely to the nature of porcelain crowns themselves. Fired porcelain is one of the hardest substances used in cosmetic dentistry. It provides an excellent chewing surface for anyone with damaged teeth who longs to eat a normal diet again. Another great benefit that porcelain crowns offer is their translucent appearance which is almost indistinguishable from that of natural tooth enamel.
Due to their sophistication, porcelain crowns cannot simply be mass produced. They must be custom-made to fit a specific tooth in an individual patient’s mouth. If you are a candidate for a porcelain crown, you will need to schedule two appointments with the Medical Center Dental Group.
During your first appointment, your Houston Cosmetic Dentist will carefully surmise the degree of damage that has been done to your tooth. He or she will make the process as comfortable as humanly possible for you by numbing the area around your tooth so that you will not feel any pain during the procedure.
Your dentist will also protect your throat by putting a rubber dam in the back of your mouth. This will keep your air passageways open and your esophagus clear from any dental debris that might be produced while he or she uses a dental handpiece to remove any decayed matter found on your tooth.
While cleaning your teeth, your Houston dentist will also shape the tooth so it will better accommodate a crown fitting. Finally, the dentist will take an impression of your teeth and sends it off to the lab. When this model arrives at the lab, the technicians treat it like an exact replica of your mouth and use it to make a dental crown that precisely fits your tooth.
It may take up to two weeks to get your permanent porcelain crown back from the lab. To protect your tooth in the meantime, we will cover it with a temporary crown. When the porcelain crown comes back from the lab, you will be called in for your second appointment. Your dentist will remove the temporary trial fit you with your new permanent dental crown and to test your bite. If everything checks out, your dental crown is then bonded or cemented to your tooth.
A porcelain dental crown will give you many years of strength, durability, and an ideal match to the appearance of your natural teeth. Its cosmetic value carries with it an added health benefit as well. Because it looks so real, porcelain does not have to be embedded beneath the gumline like some other cosmetic tooth enhancements.Labels: benefits of cosmetic porcelain dental crowns, what porcelain crowns can do for you, why you should get a porcelain crowns
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