Crowns are full coverage restorations of teeth, and different from a filling.
Four most common reasons we recommend a crown:
- Broken tooth: If you break a tooth, sometimes you are fortunate enough we might recommend only a crown. Other times when teeth break it may be deep enough you may need a root canal before a restoration or the tooth cannot be restored and needs extracted. Crowns are much stronger than a conventional filling and are often recommended on teeth that are at risk for fracture as well (example: large fillings or a patient who grinds)
- Large filling: If your tooth has a large filling, we may recommend you consider a crown to preserve your tooth over time. More and more tooth structure needs to be removed every time you get a cavity in order to properly restore your tooth with a traditional filling. If there is very little natural tooth structure left, the filling will not bond to the tooth and will fail. Crowns are much stronger than a very large filling.
- After a root canal procedure: If you have had a root canal, we like to place a permanent restoration after that procedure. Options can vary, but a crown is a common restoration we will suggest to provide strength to the tooth.
- Aesthetic purposes: In the event your teeth are misshapen, discolored, or aesthetically unpleasing, we may recommended crowns or veneers to help achieve a pleasing, aesthetic smile. These types of procedures are usually cosmetic and not covered by dental benefit plans.