Nowadays, people have no interest in dental procedures that don’t offer natural-looking results. This doesn’t just apply to cosmetic dentistry, but also to procedures that seek to improve your oral health. Thanks to the advances in dentistry over the last decade, most of the treatments you can seek at a dental clinic in South Tampa won’t affect the appearance of your smile. In this article, you will learn about a very common procedure that can help you restore your teeth while maintaining a natural appearance.
What are dental crowns?
Dental crowns are a type of tooth restoration that consists of a prosthetic cap which is used to cover a tooth. They can be used to restore teeth, and also to improve their appearance. For thousands of years, dental crowns have been made of gold, and while this metal provides amazing durability, it doesn’t look natural and is quite distracting. Thanks to modern dentistry, there are many other options available at a dental clinic near you. This is the case with porcelain crowns, which are the most natural-looking. These are often used for the front teeth because of their visibility. Other common materials include ceramic and resin.
Achieving the most natural look
If you decide to acquire dental crowns in South Tampa, your dentist will be able to design them to look exactly like your teeth. Not all dental crowns look the same, and there are many ways in which your dentist can customize them. They will be able to achieve the perfect shape and find the specific color shade to match the rest of your teeth. Just like veneers, dental crowns can hide any imperfections pertaining to your teeth and provide the ability to modify their shape and color.
Who needs dental crowns?
There are many reasons to obtain dental crowns near you, and improving your appearance is just one of them. The truth is that most times, dental crowns are placed on teeth that have become very weak to strengthen them. This is the case for teeth that are very affected by decay or that have been damaged. Also, during root canal treatment, a lot of tissue may be removed from your tooth, and this can cause it to become extremely weak. Many times, dentists will place a dental crown on this tooth to prevent it from breaking.
What is the process of receiving dental crowns?
The process of acquiring dental crowns often requires two visits to the dental clinic near you. In the first visit, your dentist will examine the tooth that will receive the crown. They may perform a couple of X-rays to determine the state of the tooth and detect any signs of tooth decay. If there is extensive tooth decay, a root canal may be required. Once everything is set, your dentist will administer some local anesthesia and start reshaping your tooth to make room for the crown. Then, they will take impressions of your teeth, which are then sent to a lab for the crowns to be made. This process may take up to 3 weeks, so your dentist will place a temporary crown on your tooth to protect it. Once the crown is ready, you will return to your dental clinic and after seeing that everything is in order, your dentist will cement it to your natural and reshaped tooth.
How long do tooth crowns last?
With proper care, dental crowns can last approximately 15 years. However, this is highly variable and depends on how well you take care of them. It is recommended to maintain excellent oral health habits and to avoid certain habits like chewing ice and biting your nails, to extend the lifespan of dental crowns.