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How to Know When You Need a Crown

Michael Wahl • December 18, 2018

Do you think you have a damaged tooth that may need a crown? You may be hesitant to get a crown for several reasons. The cost and time needed to get a crown may concern you. Also the procedure may be unfamiliar or seem more invasive than a filling. But, as far as your long-term oral health, crowns can save a tooth for decades to come. Let’s look as some reasons why it may be best for you to get a crown.

Best Practices

In dentistry, we must always be aware that you only get two sets of teeth in your life. And realistically, you really get to be responsible for the care and decisions of just your adult set. That means that your teeth are an incredibly valuable asset that you should guard carefully. Of course, this means caring for your teeth as well as you can. As your dentist, our goal is always to help you make decisions that will preserve your teeth. We want to save as much of as many teeth as we can, for as long as we can.

What is a Crown?

A crown is a cap that covers your tooth. On most adults, your dentist will use porcelain or ceramic to create a natural-looking crown. However, your dentist may use metal (such as gold alloy or stainless steel) if the tooth is in the back of the mouth or you are concerned about the cost. It can restore the shape , color, or structure of your tooth.

When Do You Need a Crown?

A crown helps to support and strengthen the tooth while protecting it from further damage or decay. Here are some situations when your dentist will likely recommend one:

  • to protect, restore or support a cracked or damaged tooth
  • when decay has destroyed a significant portion of the tooth
  • to support essential dental hardware such as an implant or bridge
  • to cover and protect a root canal on the tooth
  • when you seek a more extensive cosmetic improvement

Decision Making

Since a crown can help preserve some of the tooth, especially the root, it can be a great choice to save a tooth that is in danger. If you have decay or too many fillings in one tooth, drilling the decay out may leave the tooth weakened or there may not be enough tooth left to hold a filling. A cap can add strength as well as protect it from any further decay. This means that more of your tooth is protected for years to come. When you have to get a root canal or lose a tooth completely it can cause new issues.  Missing teeth can cause your other teeth to weaken and shift, and leads to bone loss in your jaw.

Questions to Ask:

The best patient is an empowered and educated one. That’s why we work hard to maintain this blog to help you stay informed and in control of your dental health. Here are some questions you may want to ask your dentist, if they haven’t already covered them.

  1. Why does this tooth need a crown?
  2. What are my other options?
  3. What are the risks of not getting this crown?
  4. How can I care for my new crown?

 

As with any procedure, if you have questions or concerns please ask your dentist! There may be reasons that a crown is the best choice for your oral health that you don’t see or notice. Your dentist should be happy to give you more information and help you understand why a crown is the best choice. At West One Family Dental we encourage our patients to discuss their treatment options with their dentist. Our dentists are eager to put your fears to rest.

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