Dental crowns are one of the most effective restorations that your smile can receive. For patients who are hesitant to make permanent changes to their smile, however, they may wonder why adding a cap to a tooth would be necessary. There are a couple of instances in which a crown is needed, and being aware of these can help you understand why a crown is recommended to you.
Decay
Tooth decay can happen in a variety of different ways, but a tooth which has suffered from decay will need some form of restoration in order to be saved. Small cavities can be reconstructed with a filling, but large cavities or extensive erosion may require a more complete covering to protect the whole tooth.
Teeth which have suffered extensive decay need a crown to give structure back to the tooth. By capping the entire tooth, a crown blocks out any bacteria or food particles which could damage the tooth any more. The crown also holds the tooth together, preventing it from cracking under the everyday pressure of chewing and speaking. If you have a tooth that requires reconstruction after extensive decay, then our Marysville dentists may recommend a crown.
Damage
Cavities are not the only way a tooth’s structure may be compromised. Injuries sustained to the jaw, such as falling or impacts resulting from playing a sport, can cause teeth to crack. Chips and breaks in a tooth are not only a source of discomfort during chewing, but they create situations where the inner systems of a tooth are exposed to decay-causing bacteria.
Depending upon the size and depth of the break, cracked teeth may need a crown to stay healthy. A crown’s structural benefits will prevent the crack from becoming worse, and it will block bacteria from entering the inner tooth.
Root Canals
Your tooth will also need a crown if it receives a root canal procedure. Placing the crown is the last step in root canal therapy, and it will help prevent further decay.
In turn, root canal therapy becomes necessary when our Marysville dentists notice that the internal systems of a tooth have become infected or are decaying. The root canal procedure will remove the infected and dead pulp from the tooth and seal the canals with bio-compatible material to prevent further decay. The crown restores the tooth to full strength once the procedure is complete.
Contact Us Today
Guster Losey & Mack DDS Inc provides crowns to the people of Marysville, Plain City, Richwood, Bellefontaine, and the surrounding Columbus Metropolitan areas. We provide porcelain and zirconia crowns to meet your restorative and cosmetic needs, and we offer other materials when necessary. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call our office today!