The Role and Benefits of Dental Crowns
An attractive smile is invaluable in business and life. Although tooth decay or trauma often stops us from smiling, dental crowns could overcome the problem. The majority of the twelve hundred or so years of the history of dental surgery has been devoted to performing extractions and fillings made necessary by poor dental hygiene. However, over the past few decades, the focus has moved to developing ways to restore the appearance of damaged or decayed teeth rather than removing them.
One of the first steps towards maintaining the natural appearance of treated teeth was to replace the so-called “silver fillings” which are actually made from dental amalgam, with an acrylic resin that duplicates the natural colour of the filled tooth. However, sometimes, the damaged portion of a tooth is too extensive to be replaced by a simple filling. Under such circumstances, the most viable option is to replace it with a porcelain or ceramic crown shaped and coloured to match the undamaged portion and integrate with it seamlessly.
Perhaps it is worth mentioning that there is a common misconception regarding the need for root canal treatment before a crown can be fitted, a factor that deters many people from proceeding with this option. In practice, over 90% of patients who have crowns fitted do not require root canal treatment first. When the need does arise, it is usually because the affected tooth has already been heavily filled.
Why Dental Crowns are Necessary
There are essentially three main reasons to consider having a crown fitted:
- Protection: When a tooth is cracked, significantly decayed or has undergone root canal therapy, it is more prone to infection and additional damage. The crown provides a durable protective shield, preventing further damage and deterioration.
- Functionality: Besides providing protection, a crown will restore the durable, stable surface necessary for biting and chewing without difficulty or discomfort. The tailor-made prosthesis will not only benefit a patient’s oral health but also enable more efficient digestion and nutrition, improving overall well-being.
- Aesthetics: Despite the apparent importance of protection and functionality, it is an embarrassing, unattractive smile that frequently drives patients to consult their dentist about dental crowns. Whether their problem is a discoloured, misaligned or misshapen tooth, fitting a crown offers a quick and straightforward way to restore that smile. Modern crowns are more natural and lifelike in appearance than ever and will be completely indistinguishable from the surrounding healthy teeth.
Benefits of Dental Crowns
The reasons described above are also three of the main benefits of fitting crowns. Most significantly, perhaps is that they provide a long-term solution. With proper care and maintenance, a crown can last many years, if not a lifetime. They are also more resistant to stains and discolouration than natural teeth.
Dr Ivan Marx and his team offer the option of one of the most remarkable innovations in restorative dentistry known as CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic). The technology employs 3D scans of a damaged tooth to mill precisely fitting crowns, implants, inlays, onlays or veneers from a ceramic block while you wait.
If you believe dental crowns could benefit you, why not click here to book a free virtual dental consultation? We’ll have you smiling confidently again in no time.