Modern dentistry offers a host of ways for individuals to enjoy beautiful, strong, and healthy smiles. One treatment that dentists often use to help their patients recover from dental problems is dental crowns in Waterford. These custom tooth covers are a long-lasting way to address a range of oral health issues. But how can you know if you might benefit from a dental crown? Here are some common situations that lead to the need for this restorative procedure.
A Broken or Cracked Tooth
Remember that time when you accidentally bit down on an unpopped popcorn kernel? Such accidents can leave you with broken or cracked teeth. Although a broken tooth might not cause you a lot of pain (this is often the case if the break didn’t expose the sensitive inner layers of the tooth), a crown may still be a good idea. It can protect the tooth from further damage and perhaps prevent serious dental problems later on.
Root Canal Therapy
During root canal therapy, your dentist in Waterford gently cleans out the infected or damaged area inside the tooth. The procedure often leaves the tooth much weaker than it was before it was treated. A crown is usually the best way to restore the tooth’s strength and structure.
A Large Filling
A large dental filling addresses decay and may even save your tooth from an extraction. However, if a filling is big enough, there might not be enough of your natural tooth left to properly support it. Therefore, your tooth may be at an increased risk of fracturing or breaking. When a crown is placed over the tooth, it can hold your poor pearly white together and help the filling live up to its responsibility to protect your smile.
Missing Teeth
Sometimes, a crown is not placed over a natural tooth. Instead, it may go on top of a dental implant, which replaces the root of a missing tooth. Dental implants are an excellent option for anyone who is missing one or multiple teeth because they provide the strongest base possible for a restored smile.
Cosmetic Issues
An attractive smile is the best accessory! If your smile suffers from a tooth that is misshapen or badly discolored, a crown may be the ideal way to make over your grin. A porcelain crown is the same color as the teeth around it, so it will blend in seamlessly with your smile. Also, because porcelain reflects light in a manner that is similar to that of natural teeth, it’s unlikely that anyone will notice that you’ve had some work done.
Dental crowns serve a number of useful purposes. If you think you may need this treatment, your dentist would be happy to discuss it with you.
About the Dentist
Dr. Dinesh Patel received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the State University at Buffalo. He is proud to provide high quality general dentistry to folks in Waterford. If you are interested in dental crowns or have any concerns about your oral health, please contact Summit Family Dentistry at 814-923-4510.