Dental Crowns in Lehi, UT
When you have a tooth that requires treatment, you want the restorative dental work to look as natural as possible. Dental crowns that match the shade of your teeth will help you achieve this goal.
You receive the treatment you need to restore your tooth and improve your smile without your dental crown appearing obvious to others.
Contact UsWhat Are Dental Crowns?
Every healthy tooth has two main parts: a root and a crown.
When a tooth sustains injury or you need treatment for an oral health issue, your dentist might recommend removing a portion of your natural crown and replacing it with an artificial one. The purpose of a dental crown is to prevent the need for extraction of the natural tooth by saving as much of it as possible.
Once your dentist has placed a natural looking dental crown on your tooth, it is virtually indistinguishable from your other teeth. This is due to the color match as well as the fact that your dentist bonds the crown to your actual tooth.
When Are Dental Crowns Used, and How Do They Work?
Several situations can arise that would require you to need a dental crown. Here are some of the most common reasons for this restorative dental treatment:
Aesthetic Reasons
If you feel dissatisfied with the color or shape of a certain tooth, covering that tooth with a natural looking dental crown allows it to blend better with the others and gives you a more attractive smile.
As Part of Root Canal Treatment
When you receive a root canal, a dentist hollows out the inside of a tooth to remove the infection, which can put it at greater risk of cracking in the future. Placing a dental crown on the treated tooth immediately after the root canal eliminates this risk and keeps your teeth healthy.
Broken Cusp of Tooth
“Cusps” are the raised mounds Because it undergoes considerable stress when you chew, the cusp can break easily. Placing a crown over the top of your tooth strengthens it and reduces stress on the cusp.
Chipped or Cracked Teeth
You can chip or crack a tooth in a variety of ways, including biting into hard food or having a flying object hit you in the mouth. Regardless of how the problem started, living with a chipped or cracked tooth can be painful or require emergency dental care. The longer you go without treatment, the more you run the risk of making the chip or crack larger every time you eat. Placing a crown on the tooth helps to redistribute the stress it undergoes when you chew food.
Tooth Decay
If your dentist has told you that you have extensive decay in one of your teeth, it may not be possible to restore the tooth with regular filling material as dentists do with typical cavities. If this is the case, your dentist will consider a natural looking dental crown to help preserve whatever is left of the tooth and prevent further decay or stress fractures.
Worn Teeth
Teeth grinding is a common habit that can cause the teeth to become shorter and look worn. One or more of your teeth may also look worn due to a condition known as acid reflux. Either of these issues can cause tooth enamel to wear away to the point where you can no longer bite or chew with the affected teeth. A crown strengthens the worn teeth to make them functional again.
How Are Crowns Placed?
You may also hear your dentist refer to a dental crown as a “cap.” The reason for the name is that this restoration goes over the top of a tooth much as a cap goes on top of your head.
The first thing your dentist in your dental crown procedure is inject anesthesia near the treatment area — so if you’re worried about pain, don’t be! You won’t feel any discomfort for this procedure.
From there, your dentist may need to build up the tooth with filling material if you fractured the tooth or had a root canal. This ensures that the crown will remain attached to the tooth.
After making sure that you’re comfortable, your dentist will begin shape down the affected tooth to leave enough space available to attach the crown. Once the tooth is re-shaped, they’ll place a temporary crown.
They will also take an impression of the tooth with putty, which is then sent to a lab to make your permanent crown. This helps to determine the shape of your real tooth, and ensures that the end result looks 100% natural.
Once your dentist gets your permanent crown form the lab (in approximately oneweek) you’ll have to return to have it cemented or bonded on.
Before affixing the crown with permanent adhesive, your dentist checks your bite and the fit of the crown as well as ensures that you have smooth margins. If everything looks good, it’s time to attach the crown to the top of your tooth with permanent dental cement. Your dentist will make any necessary adjustments before completing this last step, and then you’re good to go!
Do You Need Dental Crowns in Lehi?
Have you been living with tooth pain, worn teeth, or a tooth that you just find unattractive?
Consider visiting Canyon Crest Dental in Lehi, Utah to receive a dental crown and put an end to pain or self-consciousness. Dr. Geoffrey Grant, an experienced dentist and a native of Salt Lake City, is available to meet with you for an initial consultation. During this appointment, he will explain the dental crown procedure in more detail and answer any remaining questions you may have.
Please contact us to reserve your time!
Contact us today to restore your natural smile!
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