What are dental crowns and their possible uses?
What is dental crown?
A dental crown is a cap that encases a misshapen, broken, or chipped tooth to enhance its look and performance and restores the structure of the mouth. It provides strength to the tooth, makes it ready for any other dental procedure, and also protects it.
What are the different types of dental crowns?
First the dentist will cover your tooth with a temporary crown and a couple of weeks later, a permanent crown will be fixed after removing the temporary one. A temporary crown is made from the mold of the patient’s natural teeth. It could be made up of stainless steel, acrylic, resin, and zirconia.
Typically, on your second appointment, the dentist will start procedure with shaving your teeth so a properly shaped base is ready for the crown. This temporary crown is for a few weeks during which it will protect your tooth from any damage and make sure you can function normally.
On your second appointment, the permanent crown will be fitted. Permanent crowns are designed for comfort and durability and are made of material like ceramic, all resin, porcelain, and even metal for firm support. Permanent crowns are designed by dentists to suit your mouth and tooth. Once you are in the clinic, they will clean your teeth and mouth thoroughly before finally removing the temporary crown and fixing the permanent one with a strong adhesive. After the procedure is done you will be free to go with instructions and guidelines provided by your dentist.
What is its use?
There are several crucial uses of dental crowns :
- They are used to cover large cavities
- They cover misshapen, broke, or chipped tooth
- They enhance the look, performance, and strength of a tooth
- They are sometimes used to execute other dental procedures like implants, bridges, and root canal
- They are used to strengthen up a tooth which is close to breaking
Some helpful aftercare tips
While permanent crown have a long shelf life, taking care of them can increase its durability. So here are some tips :
- Brush your teeth twice a day if you don’t already. This will ensure the removal of food particles and plaque from the grooves and pits of your teeth, thereby, keeping the crowns in a fine shape
- Start flossing regularly
- Chewing hard food may crack or wear down the crown, therefore, it’s best to avoid them
- Your doctor may advise you to wear a mouthguard at night if you grind or clench your teeth in your sleep.
