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