Should You Change Your Dental Crowns This Year?
Dental crowns provide a long-term cosmetic dental solution for chipped, cracked, or damaged teeth. They are a common, mainstream dental procedure performed by dentists across Canada. Depending on the type of crown you choose, you can expect your crown to last anywhere from 5 to 15 years.
Dental crowns will usually have to be replaced after some time. However, if your crowns are chipped or broken or you have had them for around five years, you can talk to your dentist about replacing them this year.
What Is A Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that fits over your natural tooth. Consider it a snug hat for your tooth. The crown restores the tooth’s shape, size, strength, and appearance.
3 Reasons to Choose Dental Crowns
A dental crown may be recommended for a variety of reasons. Three of them include:
- Dental crowns provide strength.
Damaged, broken, or root canal-treated teeth are vulnerable to further damage or breakage. A dental crown is cemented over the visible part of the tooth, also known as the crown of the tooth. They offer excellent strength and protection to the damaged tooth. After being crowned, your weakened tooth will be stronger and potentially last much longer.
- They appear to be new teeth.
The dental crown is made to look exactly like a natural tooth in your mouth. The tooth is prepared by removing a small amount of enamel so that the crown can comfortably fit over the tooth’s visible part.
- You can save your tooth.
Sometimes, a tooth may be so weakened or damaged that it must be extracted, but the tooth can be saved with a crown. This is due to the crown’s ability to provide structure and stability to a tooth that would otherwise have to be extracted due to its vulnerability. Without a crown, the tooth may fail within a short period.
Consider getting a crown if you have a broken tooth or teeth, large cavities, or have had root canal treatment. Make an appointment with one of our skilled dentists at Dentistry by Sea Bridge to determine whether a crown is the best option for you
The Pros and the Cons of Getting Dental Crowns in Oxnard, CA
One significant advantage of dental crowns is that they can be used for various purposes. Consider the following advantages:
- Aesthetics
Crowns can be very similar to your natural teeth. A porcelain crown can be shaped and colored to match your original tooth; most people will not notice that you have one.
- Replace large worn-out fillings
Crowns can also be used to replace large fillings and restore tooth strength. Unfortunately, all fillings deteriorate over time, and your current filling may be a wedge in your tooth. A replacement crown can help to correct this by covering the entire tooth.
- They can keep a cracked tooth together.
Your teeth may develop cracks over time. These cracks can appear on the surface of your tooth. In addition, there are some deeper cracks. Your dentist near you may be able to treat these areas with a crown, depending on the severity of the fracture lines.
- Protect a tooth after a root canal.
A dental crown is usually recommended as a treatment after a root canal. After a root canal, a crown is recommended because the tooth becomes more brittle after the blood vessels and nerves are removed.
- Repair tooth discoloration
A crown can help repair teeth with abnormal staining or cosmetic defects such as fluorosis.
However, before you decide to get a dental crown, you should be aware of the disadvantages. Then you will be mindful of your decision-making process and will not be surprised by any of the following:
- Cost
The cost of a crown varies. A crown can cost anywhere between $1200 and $2500.
- Tooth preparation
To make room for the dental crown, your dentist will remove the outermost layer of your tooth.
- The possibility of requiring a root canal
Sometimes, a crown does not completely alleviate sensitivity or a crack line. Therefore, a root canal procedure may still be required.
- Recurring decay
Decay can occur on the natural tooth portion supporting your crown. If this happens, your dentist in Oxnard must remove the decay and fabricate a new crown.