4 Reasons You May Need a Dental Crown

Your teeth are one of the most important parts of your body and vital to your overall health. However, many Americans lack access to dental care or put off appointments thinking they can deal with oral health issues later. This can mean you end up needing more significant work later on. What could have been simple filling soon turns into the need for a dental crown.

Dr. Margaret Culotta-Norton and Dr. Peter Grinc in Washington, DC, provide multiple restorative dentistry services to repair and rejuvenate smiles. Our team can help give you the brilliant appearance you deserve, whether that’s preventive care or a dental crown to fix a damaged tooth.

Dental crown basics 

A single dental crown is one of the most common restorative dental procedures. Crowns are extremely versatile, providing a final solution for many different types of tooth problems. 

Crowns were often made of precious metals or porcelain fused to metal in the past, but today’s crowns are often created from porcelain, zirconia or a composite material that can be fabricated to match the sheen and color of your original tooth. Most patients prefer this approach as it prevents them from having a metal showing in their mouths.

4 reasons you might need a dental crown

There are four main reasons you might need a dental crown, ranging from mild issues to more expansive dental work.

A chipped or cracked tooth

A tooth that is chipped or cracked can easily be restored by covering the surface with a dental crown, which is fabricated to fit perfectly. Your crown will be created from a mold of your teeth so that it can be bonded tightly to the tooth itself and your bite will be even and close for proper chewing and speech.

A damaged or decaying tooth

If your tooth has a cavity too deep or wide for a simple filling, or has been broken off above the gum line, a crown can reestablish functionality and restore your bite. It’s important to get a crown made and installed as soon as possible to prevent further decay, damage, or infection.

After a root canal

If you have had a root canal, the inside of your tooth root (the pulp) will have been removed and replaced with a sterile material. A crown is placed over the root canal tooth to make sure the root canal is sealed so that bacteria will not be reintroduced to the canal and to strengthen the weakened tooth.

Dental implant support

Finally, you might need a crown to complete the installation of a dental implant. A dental implant replaces a missing tooth, with a titanium post inserted into the bone of the jaw, and a crown placed to fill the gap in your top or bottom arch of teeth. 

How long do dental crowns last?

Crowns can last for a decade or longer, and are easily replaced if something happens to damage them. With a crown, you’ll be able to feel confident and secure about your smile, and return to eating, speaking, and smiling just like you did before your original tooth was damaged.

To learn more about crowns and the part they play in restorative dentistry, call Dr. Culotta-Norton or Dr. Grinc at 202-833-1111, or visit the contact page for more information.