Do I Need a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that reinforces, repairs, or replaces badly damaged teeth. It is one of the strongest and most versatile dental restorations. In addition to its role in tooth replacement, a dentist may recommend a crown when a tooth is so badly damaged that more minor restorations, such as fillings and onlays, are not sufficient to fix it.

What is a dental crown?

These restorations are also known as dental caps because the fit like a cap over a natural tooth or dental implant. Dental crowns are tooth-shaped restorations that not only repair badly damaged natural teeth but are also an important component of tooth replacement options such as dental implants and dental bridges. Dental crowns can consist of materials such as porcelain, metal, zirconia, composite resin, or a combination.

When you need a dental crown

Only a dentist can help a patient decide when they need a dental crown. Typically, dentists recommend dental crowns in the following situations.

When someone has a root canal

Root canal procedures can save teeth and help a patient avoid an extraction. However, after a root canal is performed, a tooth is devitalized. This makes the tooth more susceptible to damage and other issues, especially if the tooth is a molar and needs to sustain significant biting force. The dental crown will protect the tooth and restore its function.

Teeth that have had multiple fillings

A dentist will likely recommend a crown for teeth with multiple fillings or fillings that take up a large portion of the tooth structure. Teeth treated for cavities multiple times or lost a good portion of their natural tooth structure are not as sturdy and more susceptible to damage. The denal crown protects these teeth, making them more compatible with sustaining biting forces.

Severe dental damage due to trauma

Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body but is not invincible. When a tooth is badly damaged during an accident, a dentist will try to save it with a restoration, like dental bonding. A dental crown is necessary when a large portion of the tooth is missing, or a crack goes through a large portion of the tooth. Dental crowns may be the only way to save a broken tooth if the break affects the pulp chamber.

When tooth replacement is needed

A dentist will do all they can to save a tooth and avoid needing tooth replacement. However, that is not always possible. Luckily, a dental crown can still be useful. Dental crowns can attach a bridge to surrounding teeth or complete a dental implant to replace a tooth. Because dental implants can consist of material that is almost indistinguishable from tooth enamel, the patient's tooth replacement will blend in with the rest of their smile.