Tooth enamel is the protective outer layer of your teeth and gives teeth their bright white colour. Damage to tooth enamel can lead to cavities, sensitivity, and infection that can destroy your whole tooth.
Your teeth are with you for the rest of your life, so you have to make sure you know how to protect tooth enamel against decay. You can get a beautiful smile with not only regular dental care but with dental treatments such as dental crowns.
Dental crowns are considered the most versatile of dental treatments. A dental crown is used to protect and secure a damaged tooth and improve its shape and colour. Your teeth will also look healthier when you receive a dental crown.
How to Protect Tooth Enamel With Regular Dental Care?
Protecting your teeth begins with regular dental care. You should brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste every day for two minutes, floss between teeth once a day to remove plaque, and change your toothbrush every three months. If your dentist recommends antibacterial mouthwash, use it regularly.
Tooth enamel is susceptible to acid wear and plaque build-up from bacteria on your teeth that feed on the food you eat. Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess sugary beverages, and limit coffee and alcohol intake. Avoiding garlic, curries, and other food with intense flavours can help you keep your breath fresh. You can also chew sugar-free gum to increase saliva production in your mouth, which helps remineralise tooth enamel.
If you think you need more care and protection for your teeth, you can speak with your dentist. If you have severe cavities, chips, or cracks in your tooth enamel, they may recommend a dental crown procedure.
How Dental Crowns Protect Your Teeth?
Using dental crowns to address a variety of issues makes them an incredibly versatile treatment.
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Encases Your Tooth
Unlike a filling which only covers a portion of the tooth, a dental crown surrounds the whole tooth, giving you the most protection possible. If there is a deep cavity and not much tooth structure remains after removing the decayed tissue, a dental crown can conceal it.
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Strengthens the Tooth
You may become more vulnerable to breaking your tooth if you have more than just a few large cavities. This is why a tooth can suddenly fracture after a filling has been in place for a long time. Having a dental crown keeps your tooth’s core intact and reduces damage, such as chips, cracks, and breaks.
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Maintains Teeth’s Function
A dental crown can restore full function to that tooth by giving you the freedom to chew and bite without fear of damaging your teeth. You can also still communicate clearly and confidently.
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Acts as a Barrier
Teeth are more vulnerable to cavities and infection as the enamel wears down due to excessive grinding, poor brushing, or eating sugary foods. Dental crowns can act as a protective barrier between your teeth and further damage, depending on how worn down your enamel is or where the damaged teeth have been.
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Improve Your Smile
Dental crowns can treat cosmetic problems, such as severely discoloured teeth, often caused by enamel erosion exposing the yellow dentin underneath. Porcelain crowns can be matched to your natural teeth and are almost indistinguishable from real teeth. You can use porcelain dental crowns to make your smile appear brighter and healthier.
Getting a Dental Crown
Your dentist will first discuss the process of getting a dental crown. There will be two visits for a dental crown treatment. In the first visit, a temporary crown made of acrylic or resin material is often placed to protect the tooth’s structure before the treatment is complete.
Upon completion of a dental crown by a dental laboratory, a follow-up visit is required. The temporary crown is removed and replaced with a permanent, personalised dental crown.
Common Types of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns can be made from various materials depending on the patient’s requirements, like the arrangement of the patient’s teeth, the colour of the adjacent teeth, tooth condition, and the tooth’s function.
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Ceramic and Porcelain Dental Crowns
Dental crowns made of ceramic and porcelain blend better with natural tooth colour than most other materials and are safer for patients who have metal allergies. Because they look, the most realistic, porcelain and ceramic dental crowns are used for the front teeth.
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Metal Dental Crowns
Metal dental crowns are more durable than regular ceramic crowns and can also withstand chewing and biting. They are often used in molars near the back of the mouth due to their noticeable colours, however.
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CEREC Dental Crowns
A popular choice for dental crowns is CEREC dental crowns, which means that the dentist relies on dental technology to capture images of the patient’s mouth and create a dental crown within the same day, milled from a block of zirconia. CEREC dental crowns are a less invasive, more reliable alternative to conventional dental crowns, which take at least two dental appointments.
How to Care for Your Dental Crown?
You may experience some discomfort for a few weeks as the crown and gum around it may feel tender, and the gums heal from the procedure. The dentist will give you aftercare instructions, including reminding you to book regular cleanings to ensure the dental crown is not damaged.
Following surgery, most aftercare instructions are predictable: avoid hard and sticky foods such as sweets and gum, which could damage your dental crown. If your dental crown was placed on one side of the mouth, avoid biting on that side and bite on the other.
You can continue your regular oral health hygiene. When you floss, make sure to be careful around your new dental crowns. Many dentists may recommend a custom mouthguard for patients who grind or clench their teeth at night.
Learn How to Protect Your Tooth Enamel With No Gaps Dental
Even though getting a dental crown may be more time-consuming than other restoration treatments, it is a worthwhile investment as it protects the teeth and relieves any discomfort. A dentist can tell you when and why you need a dental crown as well as which materials are best. No Gaps Dental offers traditional and CEREC tooth crown procedures that are convenient and versatile.
The experienced dentists at No Gaps Dental can tell you about what to expect from your dental crown procedure and how to protect your tooth enamel from further wear and tear. If you believe a dental crown is right to protect your tooth, call us at (02) 8806 0227 to book an appointment.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.