Did you know that more than half of American adults have lost at least one tooth? And many have lost even more. Fortunately, dental crowns offer a way to preserve your teeth and maintain your oral health.
According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, over 15 million people in the US have dental crowns. This isn’t surprising once you realize that dental crowns solve numerous oral health problems and cosmetic concerns.
At Avalon Dental, dental expert and crown specialist Dr. Cliff Broschinsky uses his expertise to help patients in San Ramon, California, enjoy optimal dental health. Dr. Broschinsky evaluates your dental needs and offers customized treatment plans designed specifically for you — including the use of dental crowns to preserve your teeth.
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps, or prosthetics, custom-designed to comfortably fit over your natural tooth and are held in place with dental cement. Different crowns are made from different materials, and the choice of which to use depends on your teeth and the reason you’re getting a crown.
The materials from which crowns can be made include:
Dr. Broschinsky discusses which type of crown is right for you.
Keeping your natural teeth is always preferred when possible. But if your natural tooth has suffered damage from excessive decay or trauma, it can be challenging to keep the tooth in place.
Crowns can be used to strengthen your damaged or decayed teeth that have been weakened due to fillings or injury. You retain the healthy part of the tooth as well as the root, while the damaged section is covered in the custom-made crown. With a crown in place, you’re able to chew, talk, and smile without worry.
Dental crowns also improve your overall oral health. Without a crown, it’s easier for cavity-causing bacteria to accumulate in the damaged tooth. Dental crowns make it easier to keep bacteria out of the damaged areas because you’re able to maintain a healthy brushing and flossing routine.
Crowns can also be used to protect a damaged root that’s been treated with a root canal. By fitting a crown over your natural tooth after a root canal, your tooth’s root is better protected since crowns are made from inorganic materials that aren’t subject to tooth decay.
Finally, crowns help preserve your teeth because when you’re missing a tooth or if a tooth isn’t working the way it’s supposed to, all of your teeth suffer. Your teeth and gums work together for optimal oral health.
When one is damaged or missing, it can affect the health of all the other teeth. Crowns offer a way to keep your teeth healthy and strong as long as you practice good oral hygiene.
Getting a dental crown typically involves two or three visits to Avalon Dental. The initial exam is to assess the affected tooth and take dental X-rays.
At the next appointment, Dr. Broschinsky prepares your natural tooth to receive a crown. The tooth and surrounding gums are numbed, and the tooth is shaped so that a crown will fit securely.
We take an impression of the prepared tooth and surrounding teeth and send it to a lab so they can custom design a crown for you. Dr. Broschinsky then places a temporary crown over your natural tooth, and once the permanent crown is ready you return to the office to have it cemented in place.
If you want to learn more about dental crowns and how they can preserve your teeth, call or schedule a visit with Dr. Broschinsky and the team at Avalon Dental.
