Demystifying Dental Crowns

For many people, dentistry is mysterious. This is often what makes patients anxious about visiting the dentist. Even patients who have received common treatments may not fully understand the nature of their treatment. Dental crowns are a very common restorative option; as much as 1/3 of American adults have at least one crown. Even so, people are often mystified by the process. Fuller Dental aims to take the mystery out of dental crowns.

What Are They?

Dental crowns are a sort of “cap” that fits over a damaged tooth to protect and stabilize it. The goal of any dental crown is to improve comfort and function. Modern crowns are often made of color-matched porcelain or dental resin for an improved appearance as well.

What Can They Treat?

Dental crowns are designed to stabilize a variety of damage that weakens the tooth but does not require it to be pulled. This can include:

• Advanced cavities and decay
• Cracked or broken teeth
• A weakened tooth after a root canal
• Cover a dental implant

They can also be used to improve esthetics, such as to cover a misshapen or permanently discolored tooth.

What To Expect

The crown process takes a bit of time but is very simple in principle. Your dentist will prepare the damaged tooth by removing decay and old repairs and reshaping it to fit the crown. Then they will take impressions of the prepared tooth, and fit a temporary cap for comfort and function. Using the impressions, your custom crown will be milled at a dental laboratory. Depending on your specific needs, your dentist will make a recommendation as to what material is best for you. Once complete, a second appointment will fit your crown and, if satisfactory, cement it into place.

Schedule a Consultation

Are you interested in restoring the comfort, functionality, and aesthetics of your smile? Ask Fuller Dental about high-quality dental crowns. To schedule a consultation, contact our Burlington, NC dental office on our website or at (336) 290-7401.