Dental crowns are a great way to replace missing teeth and restore the appearance of damaged teeth, but it may be difficult to decide when you need a dental crown. Here at Smiles by Shields in Jacksonville, our dentist, Dr. Tiffany K. Shields, can help you decide if a crown is the right tooth restoration service for you.

Reasons Why You May Need a Dental Crown

Dental crowns are tooth caps. They are made to fit over existing teeth and dental implants in order to restore the tooth appearance and structural stability. These caps can be manufactured out of various types of metal, porcelain and porcelain fused to metal.

1. You are missing a tooth.

If you are missing a tooth, you may opt to have a crown instead of a bridge. When a crown is used to replace a missing tooth it is placed over a dental implant that has been inserted into your jaw and gums. Many people prefer implants instead of bridges because the implant is a stand-alone tooth replacement that does not involve altering the surrounding teeth. Instead, the implant with the crown sits in the missing tooth’s socket and looks and functions just like a natural tooth.

2. You have one or more teeth that are severely damaged by discoloration or teeth grinding.

Over time, teeth can become severely damaged due to teeth grinding or become extremely discolored to the point where whitening treatments may not be enough. In these instances, a crown can cover the damaged or discolored tooth, improving the appearance of your smile.

3. The tooth has experienced severe dental decay.

If you have a tooth that has experienced severe dental decay, the repair often involves a significant amount of drilling in order to remove all the decayed sections of the inside of the tooth. Once the tooth has been cleaned, a large filling will need to be placed in the cavity. This can leave the remaining sections of the tooth extremely weak. In order to prevent further damage to the tooth, a crown is cemented into place. This allows you to keep your natural tooth.

4. The tooth has experienced severe cracking.

A trauma to the mouth, teeth grinding and biting into something extremely hard can cause your tooth to accidentally crack or chip. While most cracks and chips can be fixed with tooth-colored resins, teeth with severe cracks and breaks may need a crown in order to restore the strength and functionality of the tooth.

5. To protect a tooth that has had a root canal.

When your tooth has been severely damaged by dental decay that has killed the root, you may need a root canal. This process involves cleaning out a great portion of the tooth and root of the tooth, which can leave the remaining exterior extremely weak. In this instance, a dental crown is used to protect the remaining sections of the tooth and restore the tooth’s appearance and strength.

Dental Crowns with Dr. Tiffany K. Shields

Our dentist in Jacksonville offers dental crowns in a variety of styles, including metal, porcelain and porcelain fused to metal. The type of crown you choose will depend on where the tooth is located and your personal preferences. On visible teeth, most people choose either porcelain fused to metal or porcelain with porcelain being the most popular choice.

Dental crowns typically take two visits. The first visit involves preparing the tooth for the crown and installing a temporary crown in order to protect the damaged tooth while your permanent crown is being created. Once the permanent crown has arrived, a second appointment will be scheduled to remove the temporary crown and install the permanent crown. Once the procedure is complete, you can expect your crown to last as long as 15 years with proper oral hygiene.

To schedule an appointment to see if you would benefit from a dental crown or for a dental cleaning, call us at 904-731-0777.