Dental Crowns

Protecting and Rebuilding a Damaged Tooth

Your teeth withstand considerable pressure every day. Decay, cracks, large fillings, injuries, and normal wear can sometimes leave a tooth without enough healthy structure to function reliably on its own. When a filling is no longer sufficient to restore the tooth, a dental crown may provide the additional coverage and protection it needs.

At Foley Family Dentistry, we look carefully at how much healthy tooth structure remains, how the tooth functions within your bite, and what treatment will provide an appropriate long-term solution. If we recommend a crown, we will explain why and help you understand how it can protect and restore your tooth.

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What Is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a custom restoration that covers the visible portion of a tooth above the gumline. You may sometimes hear it called a “cap.”

Unlike a filling, which repairs a specific area within a tooth, a crown surrounds and covers the tooth. This allows it to reinforce weakened tooth structure while restoring the tooth’s shape, size, appearance, and ability to function.

Crowns can be made from several dental materials. The appropriate material depends on factors such as where the tooth is located, the forces placed on it when you bite and chew, and aesthetic considerations. We will discuss the options that are appropriate for your tooth.

Why Might You Need a Dental Crown?

A crown may be recommended for several reasons, including to:

  • Restore a tooth with extensive decay or a very large filling
  • Protect and rebuild a cracked, fractured, or significantly worn tooth
  • Strengthen a tooth that has lost substantial natural structure
  • Restore certain teeth following root canal treatment
  • Improve the shape or appearance of a severely damaged or discolored tooth
  • Complete a dental implant by replacing the visible portion of a missing tooth
  • Support a traditional dental bridge

Our first priority is the health and function of the tooth. When appearance is also a concern, we consider how the restoration will fit naturally within your smile.

When Does a Tooth Need a Crown Instead of a Filling?

A filling is often an excellent way to repair a relatively small or moderate area of decay or damage. As the amount of missing or weakened tooth structure increases, however, there may not be enough healthy tooth remaining to predictably support a filling.

A crown covers more of the tooth and can help distribute biting forces across the restoration. This may provide greater protection for a tooth that has been significantly weakened.

The decision is not based simply on the size of an existing filling or cavity. We evaluate the entire tooth, including cracks, remaining tooth structure, your bite, previous dental work, and other factors before recommending a restoration.

Dental Crowns for Cracked or Worn Teeth

Cracks can sometimes develop in teeth as a result of biting forces, grinding or clenching, injury, or the presence of large existing restorations. Symptoms can vary and may include sensitivity or discomfort when biting, although some cracks cause few noticeable symptoms.

Depending on the location and extent of a crack, a crown may be recommended to hold the tooth together and protect it from additional damage. However, not every cracked tooth can be restored with a crown. If a crack extends too deeply or affects the root, other treatment may be necessary.

Teeth that have experienced significant wear may also benefit from crowns in certain circumstances. We will determine whether a crown is appropriate based on what is happening with your individual tooth and bite.

Crowns After Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment removes infected or inflamed tissue from inside a tooth, allowing many teeth that might otherwise need to be extracted to remain in the mouth.

Depending on the tooth’s location and how much natural structure remains, a crown may be recommended afterward to restore strength and protect the tooth during normal biting and chewing. This is particularly common for back teeth, which are exposed to substantial chewing forces.

We will evaluate your tooth after root canal treatment and explain what type of final restoration it needs.

What Happens When You Get a Dental Crown?

Receiving a crown typically involves more than one appointment.

At the first visit, we prepare the tooth by removing decay or damaged material and shaping it to make room for the restoration. We then capture the information needed to create a crown that fits your tooth and bite. A temporary crown is generally placed to protect the prepared tooth while the final restoration is being made.

When your custom crown is ready, you will return so we can remove the temporary restoration and evaluate the fit, bite, and appearance of your new crown. We make any necessary adjustments before securely cementing it in place.

How Long Does a Dental Crown Last?

Dental crowns are designed to be durable, but no restoration can be expected to last forever. The lifespan of a crown varies depending on the condition of the underlying tooth, the material used, your bite, oral hygiene, diet, and habits such as grinding, clenching, chewing ice, or using your teeth to open objects.

Regular dental visits allow us to monitor both the crown and the tooth beneath it. If we notice changes around the restoration, we can discuss them with you and determine whether any treatment is needed.

How Do You Care for a Crown?

A crowned tooth still needs daily care. Although the crown itself cannot develop a cavity, the natural tooth underneath it can develop decay, particularly near the edge where the crown meets the tooth.

Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth every day, and keep up with your recommended dental checkups and cleanings.

If your crown feels loose, your bite suddenly feels different, or you develop pain or sensitivity around the tooth, let us know so we can evaluate it.

Give a Damaged Tooth the Support It Needs

When a tooth has been significantly weakened, restoring it is about more than making it look whole again. The right restoration can help protect the remaining tooth structure and allow you to bite and chew comfortably.

If a dental crown is the appropriate solution, we will walk you through the process, answer your questions, and create a restoration designed around your individual tooth and smile.

Call for more information or to schedule an appointment with Foley Family Dentistry in Foley, AL.

Call (251) 257-7009