4 Ways Dental Crowns Bring Health and Beauty Back to Your Smile
Do you have a tooth that is decayed or damaged but not to the point that it needs to be extracted? If so, you might be a good candidate for a dental crown. A crown is a cap or a cover that fits over your natural tooth to restore its shape, appearance, strength, and most importantly, function. A dental crown can make a damaged or decayed tooth stronger and even improve its look. In cases where a root canal has been performed, a dental crown can bring the tooth back to life again after the infection has been cleared.
Imagine, being able to live pain-free with full functionality of your tooth. When it comes to breathing life back into damaged or decayed teeth, the skilled dentists at SmilesNY Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry in New York City are experts at creating and placing dental crown restorations. They are passionate about improving the health and appearance of teeth and strive to ensure their patients understand the many benefits of dental crowns.
Dental crowns are placed every day to help New York City patients overcome a range of tooth problems and get back to enjoying a healthy, beautiful smile. Though it is a common procedure, some people may be intimidated by the prospect of having a dental crown placed. Thanks to advancements in dental technology, however, the process is quite straight forward and highly efficient. The experienced team at SmilesNY explains the benefits of dental crowns for repairing significantly damaged and decayed teeth.
What is a dental crown?
A dental crown is a fixed prosthetic tooth that is made to restore a damaged or decayed tooth to its original size and shape. A dental crown is permanently affixed to a tooth that is cracked, extensively decayed, or damaged in some way. For men and women in New York City, dental crowns essentially rebuild and restore the “crown” (or visible) portion of a tooth. Once placed, a custom-made dental crown fully encases the damaged tooth and sits above the gum line, helping to bring function and appearance back to the smile.
How can crowns help my smile and health?
There are many reasons why the skilled dentists at SmilesNY may recommend a dental crown for their patients. Crowns are useful for restoring and maintaining the structural integrity of your mouth and bite. For example, when a tooth decays or breaks, it leaves a hole. That hole can create problems that interfere with how your teeth bite together or allow harmful bacteria to invade the inner layers of tooth structure. By eliminating that hole, a dental crown restores your mouth's proper function and health.
Here are four common ways that a dental crown can bring back health and beauty to your smile:
1. Protects fragile teeth. Root canals leave the inside of a tooth hollowed out and the remaining tooth structure prone to cracking. A tooth that has received a root canal almost always requires a dental crown to prevent it from fracturing or breaking any further.
2. Repairs tooth damage. Patients in New York City who have a broken, decayed, or cracked tooth often experience pain when chewing. A crown holds the tooth together and restores the tooth’s appearance and function. Dental crowns also can be placed on top of dental implants to restore spaces left from missing teeth.
3. Restores worn down teeth. If a person has a habit of grinding their teeth, also known as bruxism, teeth can become shorter over time. Worn-down teeth can cause the bite to collapse, among other oral concerns. A dental crown may be recommended to restore such a tooth to its normal, functional size.
4. Improves appearance. Crowns also offer cosmetic benefits. Based in New York City, the cosmetic dentists at SmilesNY use dental crowns to lengthen teeth that are too short or conceal discoloration due to trauma, medications, or other causes. Crowns are also sometimes an excellent alternative to orthodontic braces if one or two misaligned teeth are affecting the bite.
Types of Crowns
Crowns are custom-made from resilient and durable materials and are designed to endure the functionality of your natural teeth. After one of the talented dentists at SmilesNY bonds a crown to your damaged tooth, it essentially becomes a part of that tooth. Permanent crowns can be made from several materials, such as:
- Stainless steel
- Gold or platinum metals
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal
- Resin
- Ceramic
- Porcelain
Ceramic or porcelain dental crowns provide a more natural color match and may be better suited to people who have metal allergies. Thanks to their durability, ceramic and porcelain crowns can be used for the front and back teeth.
How long does a dental crown last?
On average, dental crowns can last anywhere from five to 15 years. The life span will depend on the amount of wear and tear the crown is exposed to, your diligence in oral hygiene, and your mouth-related lifestyle habits. The New York City dentists at SmilesNY recommend that patients who receive a crown avoid habits like grinding or clenching your teeth, chewing ice, and eating hard or sticky foods. Following these suggestions will help ensure your crown supports a beautiful, healthy smile for many years to come.
Whenever teeth are severely decayed, cracked, broken, or damaged, dental crowns have proven to be one of the most effective solutions for restoration. The skilled dentists at SmilesNY in New York City use dental crowns to enhance the appearance, shape, and function of damaged and decayed teeth. Crowns are made to look like natural teeth, so they blend in naturally with the rest of your smile. If you think you may need a crown to address a dental issue, contact the office of SmilesNY and set up a consultation today to learn more.