How Dental Crowns Can Strengthen Your Teeth

The oral health benefits of dental crowns are just as important as the brilliant smile they create. A dental cap forms a physical barrier between a vulnerable tooth and the many challenges it would otherwise face. Read on to unpack the different ways that dental crowns strengthen the teeth.

Dental crowns, also known as caps, are dental prosthetic devices used to cover and protect damaged, weakened, or aesthetically compromised teeth. They are custom-made to fit over the entire visible portion of a tooth above the gumline, restoring its shape, size, strength, and appearance. Dental crowns can be made from various materials, including porcelain, ceramic, metal alloys, or a combination of materials, depending on the specific needs of the patient.

Different types of dental crowns and their uses 

The earliest form of the dental cap is metallic, like the fillings of old. These old-timey crowns are usually gold-alloy or silver variants. While they are tougher and more durable than other types of crowns, the dark color of metal crowns makes them stand out in a row of white teeth. Dentists in Phoenix, AZ tend to use metal crowns for the back molars,

Thanks to innovations in dentistry, the materials that go into the creation of dental crowns continue to evolve. The most common and popular materials that dentists use for dental caps are:

• Porcelain with a metal base
• Pure porcelain
• Pure zirconia crowns

Porcelain crowns have the double advantage of durability and good looks. The same goes for zirconia crowns. While metallic crowns are stronger than their tooth-colored successors, patients and dentists alike go for the crown that looks like teeth. This rule of thumb holds, more so for front teeth. Over and above aesthetics, dental crowns improve oral health by:

Protecting vulnerable teeth from falling apart

Extensive tooth decay can affect large sections of a tooth’s outer structure. The weakened enamel becomes prone to breakage or even crumbling. Injury can also have the same effect.

For this reason, dentists in 85053 incorporate the installation of crowns to treat tooth decay or severe injury. They will often install a crown after root canal therapy or as a treatment for a severe fracture.

Crowns act as physical protective barriers

A dental crown is a barrier that keeps harmful stimuli, substances and bacteria from reaching the vulnerable tooth. Crowns protect against:

• Pressure during chewing
• Sugary and acidic foods
• Harmful mouth bacteria
• Heat or cold

All these can further weaken an already weak tooth. The physical barrier of a dental cap prolongs and ensures the life of the tooth.

Dental crowns improve the bite of their wearer

It is normal to favor a vulnerable tooth to avoid pain. This changes the way a person eats, which ultimately affects their bite.

Once a dentist uses crowns to restore problem teeth, then the patient’s bite quickly gets back to normal. A crown can also correct slightly crooked teeth, making it easier to keep clean while also improving its owner’s bite.

Crowns replace missing teeth

Missing teeth also change a person’s bite and cause discomfort during feeding. Worse still, the jaw starts to lose mass and bone density because of the absence of tooth roots. With nothing to stimulate bone regeneration in the jaw, calcium from the jaw gets into the bloodstream but no replacement minerals make it onto the jaw. Implant-supported crowns are a permanent and holistic way to restore a person’s smile and bite, all while maintaining the health of the jaw.

Crowns restore smiles

All you need is timely dental care from a dentist with years of experience. Get in touch with us to make an appointment and find out how dental crowns can bring your smile back.

Overall, dental crowns are versatile restorative and cosmetic dental treatments that can effectively restore the health, function, and appearance of damaged teeth, helping patients achieve a confident and functional smile.

Request an appointment here: https://familydentistphoenix.com or call Phoenix Family Dentistry at (602) 547-9007 for an appointment in our Phoenix office.