Considering the many ways in which they can be used, many patients rely on dental crowns to protect their teeth in a number of different situations. A dental crown is a replica of your tooth, and can be placed over it to absorb the pressures of biting and chewing. Crowns can also help improve the appearance of a severely blemished tooth by concealing it entirely. Dental crowns are custom-designed to restore your smile in many ways, and in some cases, they can even replace teeth that have been lost to extensive damage or disease.
What a Dental Crown Can Do
When teeth are injured, they can’t repair themselves, and require professional restorative dentistry to prevent the need for extraction. If a tooth is cracked or fractured, the vulnerable nerves and blood vessels at its center can be exposed to oral bacteria, leading to an internal infection (tooth decay). Treating the cracked tooth may involve root canal therapy to remove the infected tissues, and then covering the tooth with a dental crown to protect it from further damage and infection.
Patients who’ve lost a tooth can also replace it with a dental crown situated on a dental implant. Surgically inserted into the jawbone, an implant replaces a lost tooth’s root and serves as an anchor upon which your dentist can affix the lifelike dental crown. By replicating a natural tooth’s root-and-crown structure, a dental implant-supported crown closely mimics the look, feel, and function of a healthy tooth.
Ask Your Dentist if You Need a Crown
As one of the most versatile dental treatments, dental crowns can serve a number of different purposes and may be your best option for restoring your smile. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Keelan Dental in Butler, PA, today at (724) 285-4153. Our Smile Certified experts happily serve patients from Butler, Cranberry Township, Mars, Pittsburgh, Butler County, and all surrounding communities.