Why Would You Need a Dental Crown?

July 13, 2021

A dental crown is an artificial tooth that’s typically placed over a natural tooth to protect it or restore it from damage. Dental crowns have allowed people to have natural-looking, secure smiles, and, in many cases, retain their natural teeth. In what instances would you need adental crown, however? Here are the top dental scenarios where a dental crown could be the right choice.

To Correct a Deep Cavity

Fillings can fix cavities of many sizes—but not all of them. If a cavity gets so large or deep that it compromises your tooth structure, a filling alone likely won’t repair the tooth. Instead, you may need root canal therapy to prevent or fix a tooth infection, which will be topped with a dental crown [1]. In some cases, you may not need root canal therapy, but rather a filling and a dental crown to protect and secure the tooth from further structural damage.

Protect a Broken Tooth

Teeth that have been broken off in an injury or accident typically need some type of protection to prevent more damage. However, broken teeth also affect the appearance of your smile. For teeth in the front of the mouth, dental bonding may be the only option to repair these teeth, but for molars that bear chewing weight, dental crowns are a sturdy option that can protect the natural teeth and support proper chewing.

If You’re Getting a Dental Implant

Dental crowns are the restoration of choice for people getting a dental implant. The crown will be fabricated to match the color and appearance of your other natural teeth, and will be permanently attached to the end of your dental implant. The dental crown will allow you to chew, speak, and smile just like you would with your natural teeth. When taken care of properly, dental crowns have the potential to last 20 years before they need to be replaced [2].

For Dental Bridges

If you’re missing one or more teeth in a row, you may qualify for a dental bridge. In a dental bridge, the neighboring teeth are capped with dental crowns to support an artificial tooth in the middle, which can restore the appearance and function of your smile. Like many restorations, the dental crowns in a dental bridge will need to be replaced every so often.

If You Have Worn-Down Teeth

Dental crowns also make excellent options for worn-down teeth. These could be teeth that have had experienced damage from teeth grinding or clenching, abusing your teeth (using them to open packages, crack nuts, or chew on ice), or even severe tooth enamel erosion. Dental crowns can help protect worn-down teeth and restore their appearance for a long-term solution for your smile [3].

Do You Need a Dental Crown?

If you need a dental crown to restore your smile, these excellent dental restorations can last for many years and provide you with a worry-free, natural-looking tooth replacement. Ask your dentist about your restoration options with dental crowns during your next appointment!