If you have a weakened or cracked tooth, a dental crown may restore its function and appearance. Custom-crafted to fit over the healthy portion of your tooth, a crown strengthens and extends tooth life. Here at Smile Sculptors of Wake Forest, our dentist, Dr. Shanean Michelle Anderson, expertly places dental crowns to fix patients' smiles—read on to learn more!
How dental crowns work
Used for a variety of aesthetic and restorative reasons, these caps are crafted according to impressions of your tooth and are set on top of enamel to be bonded in place with permanent, light-sensitive cement.
Here at Smile Sculptors of Wake Forest, your dentist will examine your tooth and X-ray it to determine if a crown is the right treatment for you. If so, she'll carefully remove any decay, damage, or old filling material to place a temporary restoration. A specific care plan and oral impressions of your tooth then help the dental lab fabricate your permanent crown.
At a subsequent appointment, Dr. Anderson removes the temporary cap and cements the permanent crown over your tooth. Most modern crowns bite together with the opposing arch of teeth with little to no adjustment and display an amazingly realistic appearance.
Why you would need a dental crown
Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic cite several reasons why dental crowns are a good idea:
- Crowns recreate excellent smile aesthetics because of their lifelike shape, color, and sheen.
- They are essential during root canal treatments.
- They can anchor multi-tooth bridgework.
- They cover severely cracked, worn, or discolored teeth.
Caring for a crown
Typically, crowns last for at least ten years. However, this longevity depends on your oral hygiene habits and other factors affecting wear, such as teeth clenching or consuming excessively hard foods.
Regarding day-to-day care, simply brush twice a day and floss around your crown to prevent decay and gum problems at the margins. When you get your six-month cleanings and examinations here at Smile Sculptors of Wake Forest, Dr. Anderson will check the condition and position of your crown, as well as its surrounding tissues, to be sure all is well.
Reliable and realistic
If you need dental work, please phone our friendly office team here at Smile Sculptors of Wake Forest. For a consultation with Dr. Shanean Michelle Anderson, dial (919) 825-1795.