Crowns

Dental crowns are cap-like restorations that cover a tooth in its entirety. They are commonly used to restore teeth that are either broken, cracked, chipped, worn out, or extremely weak. Crowns are quite versatile dental appliances as they can be used to treat various oral issues and restore both the aesthetics and strength of the teeth.

What are crowns made from?

In order to keep the appearance of a crown as close as possible to a natural tooth, it is made from tooth-colored ceramic material. A crown can be customized to such a level that its color, texture, translucency, and contour can be perfectly matched with those of a patient’s natural teeth. When the crown is placed over the tooth, the chances of it being distinguished from the other teeth are next to none.

What type of restorations are crowns used for?

• Chipped teeth: Teeth can undergo damage and lose a small fragment, making them look misshapen. The broken edge can also expose it to the microbes in the mouth, making it quite vulnerable to infections. Such a tooth can be completely covered using a crown, thereby restoring its aesthetics as well as preventing a root canal infection.
• Cracked teeth: A hard blow to the mouth can crack the enamel or even break the teeth, putting them at risk of being extracted. If the tooth is left untreated, it can cause a lot of pain and lead to infections as well. Moreover, if the crack starts to widen, the tooth could crumble under high stresses. Crowns can be used to prevent the tooth from failing as they cover it in its entirety.
• Worn out teeth: When the teeth get frequently exposed to acidic conditions, such as while consuming acidic foods and drinks, the calcium in them starts to wash out gradually. This makes them weak and slows them to wear down, making them look too short. Another cause of tooth wear is bruxism, which is the night-time subconscious teeth grinding. The length of the tooth can be brought back to normal by bonding a crown to it, thereby making is appearance pleasing and restoring its functionality.
• Weak teeth: A root canal therapy is a last resort method of saving a badly infected tooth. The pulp comprising of the blood vessels and nerves will be extracted from the root canal of the tooth, thereby depriving it off its regular nourishment. This can make the tooth weak and it could crumble while biting or chewing hard foods. When a crown is bonded to it, the tooth gets virtual support and protection, helping it stay strong without breaking.

Why should you choose crowns?

• Since crowns are made from tooth-colored ceramic, they wouldn’t be easily distinguishable. They would perfectly restore the aesthetics of the damaged tooth.
• They are quite durable and wouldn’t break, crack or wear easily.
• Since the crown covers a tooth in its entirety, it will prevent the entry of the microbes into the tooth pulp, thereby preventing an infection.

Call us at (408) 973 9600 or schedule an online appointment with Dr. Browning for a consultation at our office in Cupertino 95014.