Whether they’re providing restorative protection for teeth weakened by breakage or decay or restoring smile aesthetics, dental crowns are one of cosmetic dentistry’s invaluable tools.
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a custom-made cap, usually made from porcelain (options like porcelain-fused-to-metal, gold alloys, and zirconia are also available), that covers and protects a damaged or decayed tooth or restores chewing function atop a dental implant after tooth loss. Dental crowns provide structural support, a renewed chewing surface, and the boost in self-confidence that comes with a full and attractive smile.
In cases where a dentist can save the original tooth, they will do so by removing any decay, re-shaping it, and sizing a crown to fit the remaining portion. This provides comfortable and natural-looking protection from further damage.
When a dentist can't save a natural tooth, an extraction is necessary. In these cases, a dental implant is used to replace the natural tooth root in the jawbone. Once the implant is permanently fused with the bone, an “abutment” (a small, typically titanium peg) is placed on top as a connector for a permanent restoration like a dental crown.
How Do Dental Crowns Improve the Appearance of Your Smile?
Dental crowns can improve the appearance of a person’s smile, facial structure, and bite function in many ways. Here are the most significant:
- Restoring tooth shape – Placing a crown over a chipped, cracked, misshapen tooth restores its original shape.
- Hiding misshapen or discolored teeth – When a discolored tooth is unresponsive to whitening treatments, a crown matching the color of the surrounding teeth can restore smile aesthetics.
- Filling gaps between teeth – Dental crowns can fill in gaps between teeth, providing structural support and uniformity to a person’s smile.
- Improving appearance after a root canal – Crowns strengthen and improve the appearance of weakened and discolored teeth after a root canal.
Precisely Placing Dental Crowns in Aurora, IL
If you’re in the Aurora, IL, area and want to learn more about the many benefits of dental crowns and whether they’re the right restorative solution for you, contact Drs. Christine Wang & Xiaoyu Ma and the friendly and knowledgeable Prairie Dental Care team to schedule a consultation!