When Do I Need a Dental Crown?

Sometimes your teeth need extra protection and renewed strength. Typically, that comes in the form of a dental crown placed by our Kilgore dentist. A crown isn’t always necessary but there are a few instances where they work best. 

Here are 4 reasons why you may need a dental crown for your smile. 

What a Crown Does for Your Smile

Just like a helmet on our heads, a crown serves as a similar protective “cap” for our teeth. It is tooth-shaped and placed over a damaged tooth to restore shape, size, strength, and overall appearance. Our dentist may place a dental crown for a variety of reasons, such as when a cavity is too large for a filling. 

What You Can Expect for the Procedure

There is nothing to be afraid of with the dental crown procedure. We'll start by examining the tooth in need of the crown and take X-rays. Next, our dentist will file down and remove a part of the tooth’s outer layer. An impression will then be made of the trimmed down tooth and the surrounding teeth. We’ll place a temporary crown until the permanent version is back from the dental lab.

Once the crown has been created, we will ask that you return for a second visit to our Kilgore dental office to have it properly cemented onto your tooth.

You May Need a Dental Crown if You Have:

1. Root Canal Treatment

Deep tooth decay or infection should never be ignored as it can negatively affect the tooth’s inner nerve and pulp. Pulp is the soft tissue located beneath the white enamel and the subsequent hard layer, dentin. It contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue.

When the nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, bacteria begins to spread inside of the pulp chamber. This can cause an infection or even an abscessed tooth. To eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal and prevent reinfection, our dentist will perform necessary treatment. 

We’ll carefully remove the inflamed or infected pulp and clean the inside of the tooth before sealing it back up. Our dentist will finish restoring the tooth by placing a dental crown on top. The crown will prevent the tooth from breaking and give it strength.   

2. A Dental Implant Placed

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root embedded into the jawbone where there is a tooth missing. The implant itself is a titanium post that closely resembles a screw. For complete restoration, a crown is placed on top of the implant to give you a permanent fixture that looks and operates like a natural tooth. 

The combination of a dental implant paired with a crown provides patients suffering from tooth loss with a slip-free alternative to dentures. Dental implants also preserve existing teeth, restore the ability to chew, and prevent jawbone deterioration.      

3. A Broken or Weakened Tooth

Facial trauma, hard foods, and excessive grinding or clenching can all cause tooth injury. A broken or weakened tooth needs proper protection or it is at risk for further complications. This is where a dental crown comes in. Our dentist will take impressions, have a dental crown created, and cement it into place for a healthy smile.  

4. A Dental Bridge

Another solution for missing teeth is a dental bridge. Made up of a false tooth held in place by two dental crowns, a bridge literally “bridges” a gap left behind by a missing tooth. It also prevents existing teeth from drifting out of position and distributes the forces in your bite properly. 

Our dentist will cement the two dental crowns used onto each of the abutment, or adjacent, teeth that support the bridge. The result is a seamless smile that no longer suffers from the difficulties that missing teeth bring. 

Make an Appointment

Our dentist in Kilgore, TX, may recommend you receive a dental crown if it will benefit your oral health now and in the future. You will of course be briefed on the restorative procedure beforehand should our dentist feel it is the right next step. Call Kilgore Dental Care today at (903) 984-1108 to request an appointment with Dr. Odhiambo.