4 Problems that Crowns Resolve

A dental crown — a solid casing that envelops your tooth — is the treatment of choice for several tooth problems. These versatile shells, made with tooth-colored porcelain, match your natural teeth and are undetectable when you smile and laugh — no wonder it’s the most common restorative dental procedure.

Dr. Sara Ghasemi at Los Gatos Family Dental offers dental crowns for various tooth issues. Here are four of them. 

1. Damaged teeth

Bacteria can seep through the center of damaged teeth, generating infection and tooth decay, so it’s critical to repair the breach as soon as possible. If you have a minor crack, we may be able to fix it with a veneer, a thin porcelain shell that adheres to the front side of your tooth. 

However, if the crack is large and in danger of spreading when you bite and chew, you may need a crown to encase the entire tooth and save it. 

Crowns can also restore teeth worn down from years of chewing, especially if you grind your teeth. 

2. Weak teeth

Weak teeth are prone to fractures. If you have a large filling that’s half the width of your tooth or more, your tooth is compromised and can easily break under pressure. A crown wraps around your tooth and protects it from splitting apart.

Another issue that weakens teeth is a root canal. Although a root canal saves your natural tooth and prevents extraction, it also diminishes the tooth because it clears out the inner pulp. A crown ensures the tooth remains whole and functional.

3. Odd teeth

Few people are born with a perfect set of straight teeth. Most have a couple of smile flaws they’d like to fix. Crowns come in handy if you have an oddly shaped tooth that’s not working well with the others. Veneers can also help in this situation. Dr. Ghasemi advises you about the best options according to your unique needs.

Crowns can also address tooth discoloration. We’re not talking about mildly stained teeth but rather a tooth that’s become brown, black, or gray due to injury or illness. 

4. Restored teeth

Crowns are crucial when you have a tooth restoration like a bridge or a dental implant. 

When you lose a tooth or have it extracted, you need to replace it to prevent your other teeth from shifting and to reduce your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

One option is a bridge — a permanent artificial tooth held in place by two neighboring teeth. We place crowns on the two adjacent teeth on either side to secure a strong bond.

Another option is a dental implant. In this case, we anchor a titanium post into your jawbone and add a crown at the top, so there’s no need to have an additional crown.

To learn more about how crowns can protect and restore your dental problems, call our friendly staff today, or use our online booking feature to schedule an appointment at our office in Los Gatos, California.