Visit Our Dental Crown Dentist in Albuquerque
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental Crowns are sometimes called tooth caps and are made of porcelain that are placed on top of a tooth. Crowns for you teeth are typically used to restore a tooth's function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that large portions of the tooth must be removed, dental crowns are often used to restore teeth.
Uses For Dental Crowns in Cosmetic Dentistry
Dental Crowns are also used to attach dental bridges, cover dental implants, prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse, or an existing filling in jeopardy of becoming loose or dislocated. Crowns also allow our cosmetic dentists to serve an aesthetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance.
The Dental Crown Process
A tooth must usually be reduced in size to accommodate a crown. A cast is made of the existing tooth and an impression is made. The impression is sent to a dental lab, which will make a custom-designed crown. In some cases, a temporary crown is placed on the remaining tooth structure until the permanent crown is ready.
One thing to note is that dental crowns are sometimes confused with dental veneers, but they are quite different. Veneers are typically applied only to relatively small areas and typically only used for cosmetic dental purposes.
How To Care For Your Dental Crown
With proper care, a good quality crown could last up to eight years or longer. It is very important to floss in the area of the crown to avoid excess plaque or collection of debris around the restoration.
Certain behaviors such as jaw clenching or teeth grinding significantly shorten the life of a dental crown. Moreover, eating brittle foods, ice or hard candy can compromise the adhesion of the crown, or even damage the crown.
