Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley CA
Once upon a time, when a patient had a problem with a tooth beyond what could be addressed with a simple filling, dentists may have decided to extract the tooth and be done with it. This often led to other dental issues often caused by a missing tooth. Thankfully, times have changed, and dental technology has introduced far superior procedures that can address dental issues and restore oral health.
The dental crown is one of the more popular restorative treatments. Dental crowns use an existing tooth as a foundation for the restoration, saving the tooth instead of extracting it from the mouth. Missing teeth often leads to further oral health complications like loss of jaw bone and other, neighboring teeth shifting to fill empty spaces that were left by the missing tooth. Our cosmetic dentist in Santa Cruz is focusing today on what a cosmetic dental crown is and in what situations our office may recommend one.
What is a dental crown?
A tooth is comprised of two parts — a root, which is located below the gumline, and a crown, which is the part of the tooth that’s visible. A dental crown is a natural-looking cover, or cap, for a decayed, broken, weak or worn tooth. Custom-made of porcelain, metal or a combination of both, a crown reestablishes the structural integrity of a natural tooth. The crown is fabricated to precisely fit a patient’s mouth using digital images of the mouth and teeth. The crown is then cemented in place in our Scotts Valley family dentist’s office.
Why might a crown be needed?
- An old filling — Before crowns were a popular or readily accessible restorative dental option, dentists had to use fillings even for significant areas of decay. Sometimes this entailed a filling for practically the entire tooth. Over time, this can lead to problems, including weak, fractured or broken teeth. A dental crown can be used in these cases to strengthen the tooth.
- Damaged tooth — Teeth that are broken, chipped or cracked beyond what should be addressed by a simple filling may need a dental crown. Many times, the first indication that this could be a problem is a toothache. A dental crown brings back structural integrity to the tooth and will hold it together.
- Advanced cavity — A cavity with a lot of decay usually isn’t strong enough to withstand the drilling while cleaning out decay or the holding of a filling. Our family dentist in Los Gatos will likely recommend a crown in the case of an advanced cavity.
- Prior root canal — A tooth that has extensive decay is sometimes beyond the help of what a filling can address. In these cases, our Santa Cruz root canal dentist may drill deep into the middle of the tooth to remove all the decay and then cap the tooth with a crown. With proper care, a dental crown can last up to 15 years. At around that time, our dentist may recommend a crown to replace the aged dental crown.
- Stained or misshapen teeth — Teeth over time can become stained by tobacco use, certain medications and foods and beverages we enjoy, including coffee, red wine, dark sodas, tea, dark berries and tomato sauces. Teeth can become misshapen because of teeth-grinding or a chip, and they can also be misshapen because of something a person is born with. A misshapen tooth can impact a person’s bite, which leads to more pressing dental issues. Addressing this can be as simple as using a crown to extend the length of a tooth. This can improve a patient’s appearance and his or her bite, and it can strengthen the structure of the tooth.
DENTAL CROWNS IN SCOTTS VALLEY, SANTA CRUZ, AND LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
Dental crowns can successfully address many dental issues, from misshapen or damaged teeth to advanced tooth decay and even cosmetic issues. At Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry, we specialize in dental crowns, so if you have a tooth that is concerning you and you think it may be able to benefit from a dental crown — or if you’re simply interested in knowing more about crowns — give our team a call at (831) 824-5111 or reach us online to schedule your appointment today.
