What Are Dental Crowns and What Are They Used For?

If you have a damaged or missing tooth, you might need a dental crown. Learn what dental crowns are and what they are used for here.

Did you know that more than 3.5 billion people worldwide suffer from oral and dental problems? Gum disease, tooth decay, and cavities are all very common dental problems and they can damage your teeth in various ways. If one or more of your teeth are particularly damaged and sensitive, you may need to get dental crowns from your dentist in Brewster NY.



But what are dental crowns exactly and why are they important for your dental health? Keep reading and learn more about dental crowns from your dentist, Brewster NY. 

What You Need to Know About Dental Crowns

The first thing you should know about dental crowns is that they function to protect your real teeth from further damage. For example, suppose you have a tooth damaged by tooth decay, rendering this tooth very sensitive. Most dentists will not extract such a tooth because tooth extraction is quite invasive and it can often make your dental health worse.

Instead, to fix the problem of your sensitive and damaged tooth, your dentist will put a crown over it. A crown is much like a cap that covers your entire tooth and protects it from further damage. Besides restoring the function of your damaged tooth, crowns also improve the appearance of your teeth. 

This is because crowns are very realistic and look almost exactly like your real teeth. In fact, most people won't even be able to tell that you have any dental crowns unless you tell them. Crowns can also help you chew food better since you won't have to deal with the sensitivity or pain of the damaged tooth beneath the crown. 

Your dentist should be able to tell whether or not you would be a good candidate for dental crowns by analyzing the current state of your dental health. If you have any active dental problems such as gum disease or tooth decay, you will need to wait and get those problems fixed before you can get dental crowns. Dental crowns cannot cure any dental considerations or diseases; they only act as protective caps. 

The Details



You may also need dental crowns to cover dental implants or to keep dental bridges in place. The dental crown procedure is not very complicated but it may take a few weeks for you to receive your crowns. The procedure may be especially long if you are getting several crowns at once. 

But what if you are missing teeth? In this case, you will likely not be a good candidate for regular dental crowns. This is because a crown needs to cover a real tooth and that real tooth acts as an anchor for the crown. 

To fix a missing tooth, you will need to get a dental implant instead. Dental implants also utilize dental crowns, but the crown covers a metal post instead of your real tooth. But what should you know about the dental crown procedure and what kind of dental crown types are there?

Dental Crown Types and the Procedure

There are three main types of dental crowns: metal, composite resin, and porcelain. Porcelain crowns are one of the most popular types for a variety of reasons. First, they are one of the most realistic choices since porcelain very closely resembles real tooth enamel.

Second, porcelain is very durable and for that reason, it may last you 10 to 20 years as long as you take care of the crown. The only downside is that porcelain crowns are quite expensive compared to other types of crowns. If you don't have a large budget to work with, you may need to skip porcelain crowns, especially if you need to get several crowns at once.

Metal crowns are not very popular because they do not match the appearance of your real teeth. They may be made of gold, nickel, or other metals. While they are not realistic, they are very durable and you won't have to worry about them cracking.

For that reason, a metal crown is a good choice if you need to put a crown on a molar. That way, you can get all the protective benefits of the crown and no one will be able to notice the crown's metallic appearance. There are also composite resin crowns in Brewster NY. 

What You Need to Know

Composite resin crowns are the most affordable but they are also the least durable. While they are quite realistic, they tend to crack and may only last around 10 years or even less. But what about the dental crown procedure?

Before you get a dental crown, your dentist will first need to sand down the damaged tooth. Your dentist will use a local anesthetic so you won't be able to feel the pain of this procedure. After the sanding is done, your tooth will only be a small nub.

It needs to be small enough for the crown to fit over the top. Your dentist will then create an impression and send it to a lab where your crown will be made. After a few weeks, the crown will come back to your dentist's office and it will be time to put on the crown. 

Once your dentist uses an adhesive to keep the crown in place, you can enjoy all the benefits of your new crown. 

Crowns From Your Dentist in Brewster NY

If you're dealing with a damaged or sensitive tooth, it might be time to get a dental crown from your dentist in Brewster NY. Dental crowns not only restore function to your teeth but also improve the appearance of your smile. They are also quite durable and can last decades. 



To learn more, contact us here.