TREATMENTS
Composite Fillings – Crowns – Dentures – Extractions – Gum Disease – Jaw and Facial Pain – Root Canals – Sealants – Wisdom Teeth

Crowns

Dental Crowns in Keene, NH (New Hampshire)

Dental crowns, also known as “caps,” preserve the functionality of damaged teeth. A dental crown may be used to protect a cracked tooth, restore functionality of a tooth with excessive decay or replace a pre-existing crown. The purpose of a dental crown is to encase a needy tooth with a custom-designed material. Dentists today have a variety of conservative treatment options through which to restore teeth.

A crown is a tooth-shaped cover placed over a tooth that is badly damaged or decayed. A crown is made to look like your tooth. Many people call it a cap.

Crowns may be placed for several reasons. Usually the tooth has been broken or is damaged a great deal by decay. As a result, a filling can’t replace enough of the tooth or make the tooth strong enough. A crown will hold together parts of a cracked tooth. It also can be used to hold a bridge in place. Crowns can be used to improve appearance as well. They may be placed to cover and repair mis-shaped, poorly aligned, fractured or discolored teeth.

Crowns can be made ahead of time (prefabricated) or made to order in a laboratory. Prefabricated crowns are made of plastic or stainless steel. They can be used on a temporary basis until a permanent crown is made.

Crowns can be all metal, porcelain fused to metal (PFM), or all ceramic. Metals include gold alloy, other alloys (palladium) or a base-metal alloy (nickel or chromium). The all-metal or PFM crowns are stronger and are better choices for back teeth than ceramic crowns. PFM and all-ceramic crowns are the same color as your natural teeth. They look just like normal teeth.

Crowns can last for many decades if properly maintained.

Why Is a Dental Crown Needed?

A dental crown may be needed in the following situations:

1. To protect a weak tooth (for instance, from decay) from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth
2. To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down
3. To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t a lot of tooth left
4. To hold a dental bridge in place
5. To cover mis-shapened or severely discolored teeth
6. To cover a dental implant

Benefits of Dental Crowns

Crowns not only help appearance, but can also save a tooth that might otherwise be lost.

• Restores structural integrity to your tooth and improves its appearance.
• Corrects teeth that are discolored or badly shaped.
• Covers and supports a tooth in the following situations:
  – where there is not enough tooth left for a filling;
  – to attach a bridge;
  – to protect a weak tooth from breaking or even restore one that is already broken;
  – to cover a dental implant.

Even a poorly maintained or badly damaged tooth can benefit from a well-designed and correctly-placed crown.