It’s vital to know from an early age how to protect the teeth from cavities. After all, you only get one set of baby teeth and one set of adult teeth, so it’s essential to care for them as well as you possibly can to help them last longer.
The easiest way to protect your teeth from cavities is to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss once a day. Combine this routine with regular visits to your dentist for a check-up and clean, and this will help you keep on track with your oral health.
However, even with meticulous brushing and flossing, there’s no guarantee that you will remain cavity-free forever or that your teeth won’t get damaged through trauma or injury.
Fortunately, dentists offer various ways to repair and protect teeth, with one of the most popular treatments being dental crowns.
Let’s start first with the basics and a brief explanation of crowns and how to protect the teeth with them.
Dental crowns are often described as ‘caps’ for teeth. They cover the visible part that’s above the gum line.
The role of a crown is to:
- Restore functionality and strength to damaged teeth
- Improve the aesthetics of a smile
- Protect teeth from future decay and damage
- Maintain or improve a patient’s oral health
Types of dental crowns
Most dentists offer a variety of crowns to protect the teeth, including
- All-porcelain
- All-ceramic
- Zirconia
- Porcelain fused to metal
- All-resin
- Metal
- Gold
Which type of crown is best?
It depends mainly on the type and location of the tooth, the extent of the damage, aesthetics and budget.
That aside, the most popular dental crowns are porcelain and ceramic. The reason being they are biocompatible, durable, and long-lasting. They also look natural.
Same-day crowns
At No Gaps Dental, we also provide same-day crowns that utilise CEREC technology to create a custom crown in just one appointment. This means no temporary crown, no messy putty impressions, and no lab fees for our patients. Usually, these are made from porcelain or ceramic and are a similar price to traditional crowns.
When are dental crowns needed?
Common reasons for needing a dental crown include:
- Root canal
- A large or fractured filling
- Broken or cracked tooth
- Extensive tooth decay and cavities
- Improve a tooth’s aesthetic
- To hold a dental bridge
- To cover a dental implant
Is there an alternative to crowns?
Yes, but the treatments may not be for everyone. These include:
- Fillings
- Inlays and Onlays
- Dental veneers
How do dental crowns protect the teeth?
There are four ways crowns protect the teeth.
Strengthens the tooth – A crown improves the tooth’s structural integrity by holding the tooth together, which, in turn, prevents further damage such as chips, cracks, breaks and general wear and tear.
Surrounds the entire tooth – Dental crowns encase the whole tooth, providing the maximum level of protection possible. Whereas fillings, inlays or onlays only protect a small part of a tooth.
Provides a barrier – Crowns protect the underlying tooth structure from food particles, bacteria, and food acids.
Restores tooth functionality – A crown restores the tooth’s function, meaning you have full use once more. You can chew without pain and won’t have to worry about damaging the tooth when you bite. You will also be able to speak more clearly.
How tooth crowns help repair teeth?
Just like with a filling, the dentist removes any decayed, unhealthy, or damaged portions of the tooth when you get a crown.
The dentist then shapes the healthy tooth structure to accommodate the dental crown.
Once you have received your crown, previous problems like a cavity have gone, and in its place is a tooth with the desired shape, size, health and durability.
Dentists also use dental crowns for cosmetic purposes to conceal badly stained teeth, improve the shape of a tooth, or close small gaps between the teeth.
What are the benefits of crowns?
When a tooth is restored with a dental crown, you will benefit from:
- A better-looking smile – Crowns enhance the colour and shape of a tooth and look natural. As you only get one set of permanent teeth, the best thing to do if you need a major repair to a tooth is to get a crown.
- Protection – Crowns are the best way to protect a chipped, damaged or broken tooth.
- Boosted confidence – When you feel good about your smile, you can’t help but feel good about yourself. Crowns help you achieve and maintain a beautiful smile.
Are dental crowns worth the money?
The answer has to be yes! Tooth crowns strengthen tooth structure in ways that fillings and other restorations cannot.
If you think you may need a tooth crown, then the friendly dental team at No Gaps Dental are here to help. We offer high quality conventional and same-day crowns, and with 15 dental clinics scattered around the Sydney Metro area, you’re never far from a No Gaps clinic. Contact us on (02) 8806 0227 to schedule a consultation.