With a lifetime of use, teeth can become damaged due to injury or tooth decay. When this happens, the patient and their dentist must decide if the tooth can still be saved and how much of it can be. A dental crown is a method of saving an existing tooth and also repairing it so that it can be used for biting and chewing while also restoring the appearance of your smile.
Crowns are custom-made by your dentist to resemble your existing teeth and cover the damaged tooth from the chewing surface down to the gum line. Dr. Shawna Hoffert of Red Maple Dental in Asheville, NC can create and place crowns for her patients for both medical and cosmetic purposes. While you may have heard about dental crowns, you may not really understand how they can help your teeth look and function better.
At our Asheville practice, Dr. Hoffert wants her patients to understand the treatment options available to them and their advantages. Read on to learn more about the benefits of dental crowns and how they can help you restore your oral health.
Crowns help relieve discomfort.
Dr. Hoffert often uses dental crowns to complete a restorative treatment, repairing damage to a tooth’s enamel or structure. If you are dealing with extensive tooth decay, an infection of a tooth’s root, or an injury to your tooth enamel such as a fracture, chip, or break, you may feel pain when you eat or drink. If the problem is severe enough, you may have constant discomfort.
Once Dr. Hoffert addresses the underlying issue with your tooth with an appropriate treatment (filling, root canal, etc.), the remaining portion of the tooth may still be susceptible to further damage or discomfort. A dental crown can shield your tooth against further damage while also reducing sensitivity.
Crowns are a simple procedure.
You might think that getting dental crowns would be a complicated or intense procedure. In reality, this treatment is minimally invasive and relatively straightforward. Once your enamel is cleaned and the damaged parts restored or removed, Dr. Hoffert will shape your tooth so that it can securely hold a crown. Next, she will make a mold of your tooth from which your crown will be cast.
This process will usually take about two weeks from start to finish. You will be given a temporary crown in the meantime to preserve your appearance and ability to eat. When it’s ready, Dr. Hoffert will place it over your prepared tooth and it will be held in place with a strong bonding cement.
Crowns are custom-made for you.
Dr. Hoffert and our dental lab team will design your dental crown according to match the shape, size, and hue of your existing tooth. Once the slight soreness around the area subsides, you will most likely forget you even have a crown and most people probably won’t be able to notice unless you tell them.
Crowns can restore the appearance of teeth.
Dental crowns are mainly intended to restore teeth to health and alleviate dental discomfort, but they also offer numerous cosmetic benefits. Because they fit over the existing tooth, they can instantly correct discoloration, staining, misshapen teeth, crookedness, chips, cracks, fractures, and more.
Therefore, crowns can be used to alter some purely cosmetic issues, much like porcelain veneers and cosmetic bonding, however, having the treatment for this purpose may not be covered by your insurance. Consult with Dr. Hoffert’s dedicated staff about what your insurance will and will not cover.
Crowns last many years.
Dr. Hoffert uses strong materials to create our patients’ dental crowns. With conscientious care such as daily brushing and flossing, as well as routine examinations and cleanings at Red Maple Dental or your area dentist, these prosthetic teeth can last between 15 and 30 years.
Enjoy the Advantages of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns can help you restore and enhance your smile and Red Maple Dental would like to help you receive these benefits if you need them. If you’re in the Asheville, NC area, contact us online or call (828)-358-1925 to find out more about these treatments or any others or to schedule a routine cleaning.