It is funny how you need a diamond drill bit to grind into a tooth, but the slightest bit of negligence results in your tooth rotting away. Our teeth are incredibly robust and also very fragile at the same time. They also take a lot of beating over the years. Even if you take a lot of care of your pearly whites, they are bound to run into some sort of trouble at some point. For instance, even people with exceptional oral hygiene have to deal with oral degradation as they age.
Fortunately, modern dentistry has made keeping our teeth in great shape very easy. We have ways of reversing even the most irreparable damage nowadays. These procedures can be great for bringing your teeth back in working order. Also, they can be used to enhance and repair your oral aesthetics.
Today, we are going to take a look at dental crowns, also known as dental caps. Caps are a superb solution to fixing heavily damaged or weakened teeth. One can find a number of great options for dental crowns such as those provided by the dental studios like artistadentalstudio. However, you should not decide on getting a dental crown on a whim. Caps are a permanent procedure, so you need to know as much about them as possible.
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What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental caps are basically ceramic caps that are designed to look like a tooth. They are placed on top of a damaged or broken one in order to cover it up. They protect the damaged tooth and also hide any imperfections in it. A cap basically replaces a damaged tooth without actually having to remove the tooth from your gum. A cap does the following:
- Strengthen an existing tooth.
- Restore/improve its shape and size.
- Enhance its aesthetics.
Who Are Dental Crowns Suitable For?
A dental cap completely replaces the top of a tooth. This makes tooth caps suitable for people who have teeth that are severely damaged. For instance, some people have teeth that have become excessively weak due to decay. A cap can support and strengthen teeth like these and save them from further damage. Teeth that have been worn down or have broken off due to damage can also be repaired with a cap.
Basically, this process is recommended for people who have teeth that have become damaged beyond repair. When something less intensive such as a simple cavity filling or veneer procedure is not enough.
What to Expect From a Dental Crown Procedure?
In order to install a crown, a dentist has to extensively prepare the affected tooth. Before they do this, they first study the patient’s existing teeth. This allows them to create a cap that will look as natural as possible in the patient’s mouth. After the cap has been prepared, the dentist begins working on the affected tooth. The exposed part of the affected tooth is completely grinded. After being grounded to the right size, the cap is placed on top of the prepared area.
Dental caps come in many varieties. They can be made of stainless steel, acrylic, resin, or ceramic. Their durability varies based on what material are they made from. Ceramic caps tend to be the most expensive. They also look the most natural. Stainless steel crowns are quite robust, but they tend to stand out a lot. Nowadays, stainless steel crowns are only used as placeholders. The type of cap that you will get will depend on a number of things. This will include your budget, your overall oral health, and on which type of teeth you are getting a dental cap.
Pros
- Crowns cost less than implants. Also, they are simpler to install since the procedure does not involve anything invasive. This also makes the process less painful.
- Caps do not require your entire teeth to be removed. This means that you get to keep the healthy part of your teeth. Only the damaged area gets removed.
- Dental crowns can be installed quickly. You can have them installed in no more than 2 visits.
Cons
- Dental crowns can sometimes result in sensitivity in your teeth. Even after the cap has been set in place, your tooth’s nerves and roots remain more exposed than before. This can lead to heightened sensitivity in your teeth.
- Dental caps can be prone to breaking unless you go for the more expensive ones. If you have a weaker crown installed, you will need to take precautions when chewing.
If you weigh the benefits and costs of these caps, you will find them to be quite worth it. They are less costly and their procedure isn’t as painful either. And if you go for crowns made of porcelain or ceramic, you will not have to worry about their durability either.