Do You Need a Dental Crown? Here’s How to Tell!

Crowns are the best option to extend the life of a natural tooth and can delay removal of a tooth as well as the use of an implant for years. While they are more expensive than a filling, they are an excellent long-term, and very common, solution that requires much less maintenance from your dentist. Because of this cost, most people want to be sure they really do need a crown before they commit. Below are some common cases when a crown may be recommended.

Cracked tooth

Unlike a broken bone, a cracked tooth cannot heal itself. A crack, which does grow slowly over time, is covered and protected by a crown – which holds the separated pieces together, staving off worsening cracks.

Chipped tooth

Chips are one the most common reasons people get crowns. Chips can be caused by a biting down on something hard, being hit, a severe fall, or large cavities and most chips can be treated with a crown. This offers protection to the rest of the tooth’s enamel and the underlying nerve– helping protect it and extend the life of the tooth.

Cavities

If a cavity covers more than half the width a tooth, your dentist will suggest treating it with a crown, rather than just a filling. Additionally, if there are two or more smaller cavities, a crown is a great solution. Fillings can crumble and fall out, while crowns provide more structural support and protect the remaining integrity of the tooth while filling in the gaps left by cavities.

Protect a weak tooth

Dentists might also recommend a crown to help protect a weak tooth, before something more traumatic like a severe chip or break happens. A crown can hold together a tooth, and with proper dental care, it can help delay more aggressive treatments like removal or dental implants.

Dental Implants

When a patient has a dental implant placed, a permanent crown is affixed atop the implant to provide a natural looking replacement tooth. Implants are generally considered the next best thing to natural teeth.

Appearance

Crowns can help cover or reshape a tooth that is misshapen, sticks out at an awkward angle or makes you self-conscious. For other severe cosmetic changes such as the discoloration of a single tooth, crowns are good option to explore with your dentist.

Crowns are some of the most common dental interventions– they are an effective way to treat a variety of dental issues that weaken the tooth itself. Getting a crown is a good long-term solution to several dental issues, from cracked or chipped teeth, cavities or as a cosmetic or preventative measure against the same.