How Your Dental Crowns Protect Your Teeth

The cosmetic appeal of dental crowns rests on their ability to sheathe natural teeth. A dental crown is also a custom restoration, meaning that it fits the underlying tooth like a glove. It covers the visible part of the tooth, from the biting surface to the base.

These qualities make a dental cap one of the most effective protective restorations there is.

Dental crowns: Restorative dentistry and aesthetics

A dentist will remove infection and tissue damage before they reinforce the tooth with a restoration. The ideal restoration will then restore the size, shape, and function of the problem tooth.

The only downside to a crown is the removal of a layer of enamel, which never regenerates. This should be a consideration for anyone looking to get a dental cap for cosmetic reasons. That being said, a cap will cover up the type of cosmetic problem that no other restoration can.

Dentists recommend crowns when they feel it is the best treatment option for their patients. For example:

Crowns reinforce the weak structure of a problem tooth

Tooth decay and injury can weaken a tooth to the point where it starts to fall apart. A dental cap sheathes the structurally compromised tooth and protects it from pressure and stress. This keeps the structure of the underlying tooth intact, saving it from extraction.

The crown also restores the full form and function of the tooth. This eliminates the patient’s need to change their bite to protect the problem tooth. The happy result is the restoration of a healthy bite.

A dental cap is an effective physical barrier

Dental caps fit like a glove and they sit snugly on the gumline. A crown forms an impenetrable barrier that protects the vulnerable inner tooth from exposure to:

• Heat and cold
• Sugar and acid
• Food particles
• Bacteria

Heat and cold cause discomfort and sometimes, pain. The same goes for sugar and acid, except that these substances also erode the enamel. Keeping food particles and bacteria from a weak tooth prevents tooth decay from happening or developing further.

A dental cap helps with oral hygiene

Dentists will clean out injured or infected tissue before installing a crown. The crown will keep food and bacteria from reaching the natural tooth, thus keeping the tooth clean.

Situations where a dental crown may fail

Tooth decay can reoccur on a tooth that sits under a crown. The reasons for this range from failed root canal therapy to gum disease. In such cases, the dentist will remove the crown, treat the problem tooth, and place a suitable dental restoration, usually a crown.