10 Jun

Ask a Family Dentist: Why Would I Need a Dental Crown?

A family dentist will often use crowns to help protect teeth

Most people have heard of dental crowns and have a rough idea of what they are, but here is a simple definition in case you are not familiar. Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that are placed on top of your existing teeth. They can be made from a variety of materials including porcelain, ceramic, and resin. There are many reasons why your family dentist might suggest dental crowns for you, and we are going to explore some of those reasons today.

Dental crowns can be used for cosmetic reasons. Sometimes teeth have interesting spacing, colors, or shapes that can cause them to stand out in a not-so-great way. Crowns or veneers can be applied to bring an aesthetically pleasing, natural appearance to your teeth.

A family dentist will often use crowns to help protect teeth, so that you don’t experience pain. Some examples of this would be when your family dentist uses a crown with a root canal or very large filling to prevent the tooth from fracturing. Other examples include broken cusps or cracked teeth, where a crown will protect the tooth, so that you can bite down without pain.

Crowns are also used to cover dental implants. This may seem like an extreme scenario, but are you aware that the average adult has three or more decayed or missing teeth (according to the American Dental Association)? So, if you have a missing tooth and need a dental implant, you are not alone! Crowns can make your implant look and feel just like a natural tooth.