All About Dental Crowns and Why You May Need One
What are dental crowns?
A dental crown is a cover over the patient's natural tooth. If a treatment plan offers the option of a dental crown and the patient decides they don't want one, it's the dentist's choice to determine whether that tooth can be restored without a crown. Sometimes a tooth can have pins put in, which are forms of retention to build up the missing pieces of the tooth.
However, often this situation is not viable because the patient has lost so much tooth structure. Instead of a large buildup of a filling supported by retention pins, the better and more conservative option is to place a dental crown over the weak tooth.
There are different types of dental crowns, including porcelain baked on metal, which is a semi-precious or precious metal. More recently, there are ceramic crowns such as zirconia and different types of zirconia crowns, which are white-colored. In the past, porcelain baked onto a metal crown was the procedure of choice. Nowadays, with cast or milled crowns, zirconia or white ceramic crowns are more commonly used.
Do I need a dental crown if I've had a root canal?
It's suggested and recommended that the patient crown the tooth after a root canal because the tooth will dry out, losing its blood supply. The crown will help prevent this from occurring. There's another phenomenon where, in about a third of people, root canal teeth will discolor. For aesthetics, the patient will desire to have the tooth crowned following a root canal.
What happens when a patient has a broken tooth?
A patient may walk into the office with a broken tooth or, during an exam, a tooth that has significant decay. The dentist will inform the patient that the tooth has too large a filling to be a supportive tooth, or there's so much decay that rebuilding it with a large filling isn't feasible. The dentist will advise the patient to have a crown to cover the weak tooth and strengthen it. The procedure involves preparing the tooth in a specific design, taking impressions, and then sending it to the lab where a zirconia tooth will be made.
Does dental crown placement hurt?
The dental crown placement should involve a local anesthetic. When the temporary is removed, the dentin is exposed to the air, which can be quite sensitive for the patient. I generally numb the patient for the crown placement.
What are the consequences of getting a tooth crowned?
The consequence of getting a tooth crowned is that you'll have a strong tooth. Without the crown, you'd have a tooth with a very large, possibly pin-retained buildup, and you'd be instructed not to bite on certain things because it's a weak tooth. The benefit of a crown is the return of strength.
Do children's teeth need dental crowns?
The premature loss of children's teeth can affect the eruption of permanent teeth and their placement. I recommend crowning children's teeth when there's an appropriate amount of tooth structure left, strictly for orthodontic development.
Do dental crowns look natural?
Yes, they do. If the patient chooses porcelain or the new ceramics, they will all be tooth-colored crowns and look very natural. A crown is a cover on your natural tooth, which requires maintenance. This maintenance includes brushing, flossing, using a water pick, and regular visits with X-rays from your dentist.
Maintaining a dental crown requires no more effort than any other tooth in your mouth. A dental crown will last many years if maintained properly, which includes brushing, flossing, regular X-rays, and dental cleanings.
Does dental insurance cover dental crowns?
Insurance does cover dental crowns in part. In our office, even though we are fee-for-service, we pre-submit with the X-rays for coverage and then wait to see what the coverage is so that you know what percentage is covered.
How can I schedule an appointment for a dental crown?
If you’re ready to schedule an exam or would like to learn more about our services, we’d love to hear from you. Call us at (570) 682-5050 or email [email protected]. We look forward to caring for your smile.