A dental crown is like a cap that covers a broken or otherwise damaged tooth, or a tooth that has multi-surface fillings. Crowns can restore many natural teeth that would otherwise need extraction and replacement.
If you believe you need a dental crown, you may be concerned you do not have enough natural tooth surface to support it. Fortunately, your dentist has options to reinforce your natural tooth to place a crown.
How Dental Crowns Work
A dental crown restores the strength and integrity to teeth that have multi-surface fillings. To place a crown, the dentist first takes digital impressions. They remove all compromised material and take a second set of impressions to ensure a perfect fit. The crown design goes to the laboratory or the CAD/CAM machine that custom-mills it while you wait.
Reinforcing a Tooth for a Crown
Composite Resin
One of the simplest solutions is building the tooth structure with composite resin. Composite resin is economical and easy to apply. While resin is not strong enough to restore a severely damaged tooth, it works well when reinforced with a crown.
Post-and-Core Foundation
After a root canal, a tooth may need reinforcement before it can accept a crown. A post-and-core foundation involves cementing posts inside the tooth.
Crown Lengthening
Dentists can also perform crown lengthening, which recontours the gum line to expose more of the tooth surface. This common and minimally invasive procedure takes about an hour to complete.
Alternatives to a Crown
If the restorative dentist determines that a crown will not work for your damaged tooth, you still have options to restore it. These options include bridges, implants, and partial dentures.
Crown Material Options
Restorative dentists have several options for restoring your tooth. We offer both same-day and traditional crowns. Many patients prefer tooth-colored crowns made of porcelain, ceramic, or porcelain over metal.
Patients may opt for gold or base metal alloy crowns, especially on the molars. Metal crowns resist the force from bruxism (teeth grinding) better than other materials.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Crowns
How much tooth needs to remain for a crown?
In general, restorative dentists can place crowns with as little as one-quarter of the original structure remaining. If less natural teeth remain, the dentist may be able to build up the tooth using the methods above.
Do I need to get a crown after a root canal?
A crown or filling can work after a root canal, but a crown provides longer-lasting protection for your natural tooth. Teeth with crowns last longer and develop fewer problems than teeth with fillings.
Call Bisson Dentistry
Dental crowns can restore your chewing ability, preserve your natural root structure, and improve your smile. Please call our Guelph, Ontario, office at 519-821-3561 to schedule a consultation with one of our expert restorative dentists.