Five Signs that Indicate Dental Crowns Are Right for You
Dental crowns are a restorative treatment that help strengthen damaged teeth, prevent further damage, and restore aesthetics.
Dental crowns can be used to treat many different dental issues, but they are not right for everyone. When considering if dental crowns are right for you, it's important to know what signs to look for.
Dr. Mark Davis discusses these five signs that indicate dental crowns may be right for you. Contact our Scottsdale, AZ office to find out more.
1) You Have One or More Broken Teeth
Broken teeth can be painful, damage your oral health, and affect the appearance of your smile. Without treatment, a broken tooth can become severely decayed, leading to tooth loss either from extraction or falling out on its own.
For those who suffer from broken teeth that cannot support a filling but aren't severe enough to require extraction, dental crowns are often a viable option.
A dental crown will completely encase a broken tooth. This helps prevent further damage as well as restore dental structure, strength, and appearance.
2)You Have Had Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is necessary when the inner pulp and nerve tissues of a tooth become infected. During root canal therapy, decayed portions of the tooth are removed along with the infected tissues. This often leaves the tooth brittle and at increased risk of breaking.
Placing a dental crown over a tooth that has had root canal therapy can protect the tooth from breaking. If you have had root canal therapy, a dental crown can restore the strength of your tooth and protect it from fracturing.
3) You Have Large Fillings
Large cavities are dangerous to oral health, but even after treatment with a dental filling, the tooth will not be as strong as it once was. Large fillings may be necessary to restore dental health but they can leave the teeth weakened and vulnerable to breaking.
Placing a dental crown over teeth with large fillings can help protect the teeth from further damage and preserve oral health.
4) You Suffer from Cracked Tooth Syndrome
Cracked tooth syndrome is a condition in which there is a crack in the tooth but the tooth is not broken. This can cause a sharp pain when chewing or biting foods.
Most people with cracked tooth syndrome find that this pain is not constant but rather occurs when biting down. Some also notice increased sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, as well as sweet or sour foods.
Placing a dental crown over a cracked tooth can help alleviate cracked tooth syndrome and protect the tooth from further damage.
5) You Have New Decay in a Tooth with a Filling
Once tooth decay has been treated with a dental filling, whether silver amalgam or composite resin, it's possible for new decay to develop over time. Decay may occur around a filling or in a new area on the tooth.
Sometimes the new decay can be treated with another filling, but more often the new decay will need to be treated with a dental crown. This is because placing an additional filling or a larger filling into the tooth can weaken the tooth and leave it vulnerable to further damage. Placing a dental crown will encase the damaged tooth and prevent breakage.
Schedule an Appointment
If you are experiencing one or more of these five signs that indicate you may need a dental crown, you are encouraged to schedule a consultation. Please call us at (480) 595-1300 to schedule an appointment.
