6 Signs it Might be Time for a Crown
Posted On 12/19/2017 12:00:00 AM
Dental crowns serve a couple of different purposes. First, these permanent prosthetics, or caps, are designed to improve the shape, alignment or overall appearance of a tooth. Secondly, crowns are also able to help strengthen a damaged tooth.
Most crowns are made of either ceramic or porcelain and are designed to fully cover a tooth to ensure functionality and good aesthetics.
Top Signs it Might be Time for a Crown
There are times when a crown makes more sense than other dental procedures, such as bridges, veneers and even standard fillings. Here’s a closer look at some of the top signs a crown may be necessary.
Broken or fractured teeth
If there isn’t enough tooth remaining to fix it via other methods, a crown can be an ideal repair solution. Cracked or fractured teeth don’t heal, so oftentimes capping it with a crown is the best solution to restore the tooth. Chipped teeth usually don’t require a crown to repair - just cracked or fractured teeth.
Cosmetic enhancement
Crowns help improve shape, alignment and the overall appearance of a tooth so that it looks just like a natural tooth.
Decayed teeth
If more than half of a tooth is decayed, a crown is usually the better option over a filling. Crowns help strengthen the tooth and can provide a whole-tooth solution.
Fractured fillings
In some cases, a filling may be administered again. However, if there’s inadequate tooth to retain the filling and still endure the rigors that teeth get put through on a daily basis, a crown may be a better option.
Large fillings
If a large portion of your tooth requires a filling, going with a crown might be the better option. This is because crowns tend to give full-tooth protection, rather than just partial tooth protection like a filling would. Administering large fillings may also cause the tooth to crack.
The tooth has a root canal
Root canals may be able to save a tooth from being removed, but what they can’t save is the amount of decay the tooth has endured. If tooth decay is too extensive to safely repair with a filling, a crown is usually the best bet.
Save Money on Crowns
If any of the above signs sound familiar to you, Kanehl Dental can help. To learn more about how we can make you smile, request a consultation today.
Bruce A. Kanehl, D.D.S.
7933 Baymeadows Way #5
Jacksonville, FL 32256
(904) 731-2162
To learn more about how we can make you smile, request a consultation today.
Dr. Kanehl is one of a select few in the Jacksonville area to be a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and to treat sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy.