How Your Dentist Uses a Dental Crown

Dental Crown Fort Worth, TX

If you’ve ever broken a tooth, then you’ve likely had a dental crown put on. What you may not know is what exactly a crown is and how they are used by the dentist. The crown itself is a very versatile dental application that works to restore the shape of a tooth as well as protect it from further damage and restore the patient’s ability to eat the foods they love. 

A dental crown is used for a few different things depending on the needs of the patient. While most of us are familiar with crowns to cap a broken tooth, the dentist may decide on a specific type of crown for a particular reason. In fact, crowns are for much more than just fixing a broken tooth. 

Dental crown uses

Knowing what a crown is used for can help when you have a dental situation that needs addressing. You may find that a crown is a viable solution for more than just one problem. A crown is not just a cosmetic procedure. It has more uses, such as preventing tooth damage and helping to support other dental applications. 

Here are some of the more common uses:

Repairing a broken tooth

This is what most people think of when they go to the dentist for a crown. Typically, when a tooth becomes broken, the dentist will file the damaged tooth down to a proper shape and then apply a crown to restore the tooth to its natural look and shape. Crowns come in a variety of materials, from composite materials that imitate real teeth to pure gold.  

The “cap” is placed over the tooth and cemented into place using special dental cement so that it stays solid even when eating and drinking.  

Protecting teeth with large cavity filling or weak spots

 In some cases, the tooth may not actually be broken; it may be severely weakened due to damage from a large filling from a cavity or damage to the root system from having a root canal treatment. In these cases, the dentist may use a crown to help protect the remainder of the tooth from damage and support the chewing and biting surface to make eating easier and pain-free. 

In cases where the tooth is not broken, the cap is fitted to cover the existing tooth instead of shaving the tooth down and then is cemented in place to provide a stable biting surface while the remainder of the tooth underneath is left alone. 

Supporting bridgework and other applications

In cases where a patient doesn’t have the bone or tooth structure to support certain dental applications like bridges or implants, the dentist may use a crown to help anchor the application and give it the proper support it needs to function properly. The crown is usually placed on top of an existing tooth adjacent to where the dental application is going in so that it can act as support without having an impact on the mouth any further. 

These are just a few of the different uses that ad dentist has for a crown.

Request an appointment here: https://www.riversidefortworthdental.com or call Riverside Dental at (817) 210-4082 for an appointment in our Fort Worth office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges in Fort Worth, TX.

Recent Posts

How Dental Crowns Are Used As A Dental Restoration

Dental crowns are one of the versatile restorations used in dentistry. Crowns are used to save damaged teeth that cannot be saved using less invasive procedures. Damage can occur to teeth at any time, leaving them severely compromised.Placing a crown on a tooth requires making permanent alterations by removing enamel to create a better fit.…

Dental Crowns To Protect Your Tooth

If you've been told you need dental crowns or want to know more about them, here's an explanation of what they are and how they're used to protect your tooth from damage caused by decay, injury, or other factors. The following article provides some information about the materials used to make crowns and their benefits…

Metal Crowns Vs. Porcelain Dental Crowns

For patients in need of dental crowns, there are plenty of options available. Two of the most common choices are porcelain crowns and metal crowns (often with a porcelain overlay fused to the metal). Depending on a patient's specific circumstances, one of these crown types may be the preferred option.Metal crowns have the advantage of…

How Long Do CEREC® Crowns Take?

CEREC® crowns have recently become a very popular dental restoration option. They offer a lot of benefits, including convenience, ease, and reliability. However, because they are still considered to be new within dentistry, some individuals are not exactly sure what to expect. One question that often comes up is how long CEREC® crowns take to…

Recent Posts

The Most Common Types Of Gum Disease

The Most Common Types Of Gum Disease

If you notice that your gums are bright red, swollen-looking, or bleed when you brush or floss, then you may have gum disease. This disease, also known as periodontal disease, is unfortunately quite common though, so you are not alone. It happens most often due to a build-up of bacteria on and around teeth thanks…

What Are Invisalign Clear Aligners?

What Are Invisalign Clear Aligners?

Invisalign® is a teeth-straightening treatment that entails wearing sets of custom-made transparent aligners over the teeth. Unlike traditional metal braces that use wires and brackets, the aligners are removable, which means wearers can take them off when they want to eat or brush their teeth. Learn about these clear aligners and how they are used to…