Patients in Aldershot can restore damaged smiles with dental crowns treatment

Your mouth is a significant part of your appearance. More often than not, your smile plays a role in other people’s first impressions of you, and the health of your mouth is closely linked with the health of your body. Keeping your mouth healthy and your teeth protected is important. When teeth experience trauma or decay, fixing them quickly is important to restore health and beauty to the smile.

Dental crown treatment can be used for many reasons by Dr. Khanna and the team at Dentistry at LaSalle. At our office in Aldershot, we help patients in the area with ceramic dental crowns in multiple procedures. In the following article, we will take a look at some of the reasons crowns are used, how crowns differ from dental fillings, and the steps of dental crown treatment, along with the benefits of dental crowns.

What is a dental crown?

A dental crown is a restoration that fits over the entire area of the tooth and is often synonymous with the term “cap.” Crowns cover the visible portions of the tooth and differ from fillings, which are only used to spot repair areas of decay on the enamel. Dental crowns add protection to a weakened tooth, preventing it from breaking or cracking.

There are multiple reasons for using dental crowns, and one of the most common is to protect a weakened tooth after root canal procedures. During a root canal treatment, the decayed pulp chamber of the tooth is removed and cleaned out, which can leave the tooth brittle and prone to breakage. A dental crown restores the strength of the tooth so individuals can still bite and chew.

Dental crowns can also restore teeth that have broken or cracked due to trauma. Lastly, dental crowns are a major component of two different restorations for missing teeth: fixed permanent bridges and dental implants. With dental bridges, the crowns are placed on healthy teeth on either side of the gap and are the foundation for the prosthetic teeth and framework. With dental implants, crowns can be attached to the implant via an abutment to restore the smile after missing teeth.

What are the benefits of dental crowns?

In addition to protecting a damaged tooth or replacing a missing tooth, there are many benefits to dental crowns, including:

• Strength – Dental crowns are made of porcelain, which is a strong ceramic material that can withstand the force and pressure put on teeth during daily life.
• Appearance – Porcelain material closely resembles natural tooth enamel. Its translucency and how it reflects light make it a very natural-looking material for dental crowns. Dental crowns blend in so seamlessly with the smile that no one will know that you’ve had dental work done.
• Protection – Dental crowns can help save a tooth that would otherwise be prone to breakage or require extraction. With the crown, patients can often avoid costly extractions.

The dental crown treatment process

Dental crowns typically require only two visits to the dental office. During the first visit, there is an examination where X-rays and impressions are taken. The dentist sends this information to a laboratory for the fabrication of the dental crown. The tooth is then prepared for the crown by removing a small amount of enamel to allow room for the crown to fit properly. A temporary crown is placed to protect the tooth and allow patients to bite and chew.

Once the permanent crown is ready, patients will return to the office for the second visit. The crown will be checked for proper color and fit prior to the final bonding process. Small adjustments can be made in the office. The final bonding is done with a special cement. Once in place, the tooth will be polished for a smooth, natural-looking final result.

At Dentistry at LaSalle, we are proud to offer dental crown treatment to our patients in Aldershot and the surrounding areas. We also offer a wide range of restorative and cosmetic services, including teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, root canal therapy, dentures, Invisalign, and laser dentistry. We also offer comprehensive children’s dentistry services for our littlest patients. If you are in the area, we invite you to find out more about the benefits of family dental care from Dentistry at LaSalle by calling (905) 634-9090.