Many of today’s most popular dental treatments are simply modern variations of age-old solutions. Dental crowns are such a treatment, and have consistently remained a go-to solution for a wide range of concerns, such as cracked, broken, or malformed teeth. Since they were first created, though, dental crowns have undergone several important evolutions, and other solutions have been developed to address more minor issues in a minimally invasive fashion. At our Mansfield, TX, dental office, we know that a custom-designed crown is the best option for many patients who need to restore a tooth. However, we also know that you may benefit more from a different option, and will help you determine which is the more appropriate treatment before recommending one.
Why cap a tooth with a crown?
Dental crowns get their name from the top portions of your natural teeth. They’re also called caps because they’re designed to completely cover the crowns of teeth that have become compromised. The point is to restore the tooth’s strength and ability to function properly while protecting the natural tooth structure from cracking or breaking further. Every crown is carefully custom-designed to mimic a tooth’s unique size, shape, and measurements, then bonded in place over the tooth, capping it completely.
A few possible alternatives
For centuries, there weren’t many choices between capping a tooth entirely or removing it and replacing it with a prosthesis (such as a dental bridge). These days, however, you have several potential alternatives depending on the nature and extent of your tooth damage. For example, if your tooth is only slightly chipped or cracked, then we may be able to restore it with minimally invasive cosmetic tooth bonding. Using tooth-colored composite resin, we can build up the chipped or cracked portion of your tooth without having to cover the entire crown of the tooth.
When a crown is the only option
Today’s wider range of cosmetic and restorative dental treatments gives patients plenty of options for fixing their teeth more precisely. However, that doesn’t mean dental crowns have become any less popular. In fact, because of their more advanced design and more lifelike, highly durable materials (such as porcelain), modern dental crowns can help patients successfully restore teeth even after severe structural damage. After thoroughly examining your tooth and the state of your oral health, we’ll help you determine if a dental crown would be the most successful way to restore your tooth.