Do I Need a Dental Crown?
Do I need a dental crown?
If your Winter Park dentist has recommended a dental crown for your treatment plan, you might be wondering what are the reasons for the crown on your treatment plan. Additionally, if you haven’t had a dental crown procedure, you want to understand the basic steps involved.
Why did the local dentist recommend a dental crown for me?
The fundamental reason a crown is performed is to restore your natural tooth due to damage from some decay (cavities) or some physical trauma that has caused a chip or a crack. A dental crown is typically the next step from a standard dental "filling" to restore teeth. A dental filling is considered a "Basic Restorative" procedure, while a dental crown is considered a "Major Restorative" procedure. Your local dentist will usually recommend a dental crown when a traditional amalgam or composite filling is not sufficient to repair the damage to your tooth. Dental fillings typically restore one, two, or three tooth surfaces. Whereas a dental crown will restore all surfaces of a tooth, essentially "crowning" your natural tooth with a replacement for the look, feel, and shape to match your teeth.
Do I need a crown after a root canal?
Most dentists and dental specialists recommend a crown restoration after a root canal is performed. However, there are some cases (most commonly on lower front teeth) where a filling may be required to sufficiently restore a tooth. The reason a crown is almost always prescribed following a root canal is multi-faceted. It is essential to recognize that a root canal procedure is done in an attempt to save a tooth that would otherwise require an extraction and be lost entirely.
By removing the infected/unhealthy nerves inside the tooth's pulp, the dentist can save the rest of the tooth from further progression of infection or decay. Often, this is sufficient to keep the tooth healthy and functioning permanently. Because a successful root canal saves an otherwise "lost" tooth, it is important to protect the tooth in the best way possible. As a result, a crown that covers all sides of the tooth can be the best form of protection against future decay or fracture.
Additionally, the most common cause for needing a root canal treatment is that an active cavity has progressed deep enough that the decay has reached the inner pulp and root of the tooth. In these cases, the cavities are often more extensive and have weakened or destroyed the natural "crown" of the tooth. In these situations, a filling is insufficient to restore the shape of the tooth, and a full crown is required.
Finally, if you have heard of inlays or onlays, they may be an alternative to a crown. An inlay or onlay procedure is between a filling and a full dental crown. The benefits are that these procedures do not require cutting away as much natural tooth structure. When looking at individual teeth or specific cases, these procedures can often look more appealing. However, usually, looking at a patient's entire dental history will lead a dentist to recommend a crown instead of an inlay or onlay to also defend against future problems. For patients who will be more prone to additional cavities in the future or are at risk of additional fractures due to a tooth previously impacted by a chip, crack, or infected root – a crown can provide a higher chance of full defense against future issues or complications.
I didn't need a root canal, so why did my local dentist recommend putting a crown on my tooth?
Although not as common, a full crown can also be recommended when a large cavity or chip has severely impacted the tooth structure of a tooth. If you imagine a tooth that has lost most of its structural integrity due to a cavity or chip, putting layers of filling material may not be the best approach when it makes up most of the restored tooth. Modern crowns are made of highly durable all-ceramic or Zirconia composites, which are milled of a single monolithic material, so they are inherently more robust and much less likely to require re-work or complications in the future.
Another reason a dentist may recommend a full crown instead of fillings or "bonding" is that it will allow more options for aesthetic dentistry. When it comes to specific shaping, color, transparency, or opaqueness (how much light should be let through and reflected), crowns can offer more flexibility to help the dentist achieve the look you want with cosmetic dentistry.
If you have any questions regarding a crown recommended for you and want to know more or understand the considerations – please contact us or schedule an appointment!
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