Dental crowns are one of the most important tools a dentist has in their arsenal. They can take care of many cosmetic and restorative issues with your teeth. What all can Boise, ID dental crowns be used for? Dr. Brock Hyder and Dr. Dennis Garpetti of LIFESmiles Family and Cosmetic Dentistry explain.
Strengthening Your Natural Teeth
One of the most common uses for dental crowns is to stabilize a tooth after a root canal. During a root canal procedure, the infected dental pulp is removed from inside your tooth, leaving it hollow. While it’s then filled with a biocompatible material, a dental crown can ensure you get full functionality back in your tooth. It also helps to seal off your tooth from any further infection.
The biggest downside to getting a dental bridge is the stress it puts on the teeth that anchor it. Anchor teeth experience more wear and tear and are more susceptible to tooth decay. This can lead to needing fillings, a root canal, or even an extraction of an anchor tooth. Putting dental crowns over these teeth can eliminate these risks. The strain is taken on by the crowns instead of your natural teeth.
Covering a Misshapen or Discolored Tooth
A misshapen tooth can make you self-conscious about your smile. Depending on the tooth’s defect and where it’s located in the mouth, it may also give you trouble with biting and chewing. A dental crown is custom-made to blend in with the rest of your smile, both size and shape. Since crowns go over the entire tooth, you’ll get the full functionality of it back, as well as a tooth that’s no longer misshapen.
Discolored teeth are often treated with traditional teeth whitening techniques. However, if you have teeth that are stained due to medication or genetics, they may be resistant to normal teeth whitening. A “dead” tooth may also be discolored and make you insecure. A dental crown can be made to cover each tooth that’s resistant to traditional teeth whitening.
Taking Care of a Damaged Tooth
When you chip or crack a tooth, you may get lucky and only have a cosmetic issue. But when it’s more than that, you may need emergency dentistry to get it fixed. A crown can fill out where the rest of the tooth would be if it hadn’t broken off. It can also hold a cracked tooth together to save the tooth. Crowns also make sure that bacteria doesn’t get into any exposed dental pulp.
The Final Restoration for Dental Implants
Dental implants are the most natural form of tooth replacement, particularly with dental crowns as the final restoration. Implants give you the stability you need and crowns are made to blend in with the rest of your smile. You won’t even be able to tell that you had a missing tooth!
Getting Dental Crowns in Boise, Idaho
Can dental crowns be the solution to your dental problems? Call us or schedule an appointment online.