What are dental crowns?

A dental crown is a covering or a tooth-shaped cap which overlays a tooth to restore its color, shape and alignment. Dental crowns are made from various materials. Porcelain and ceramic crowns are generally used to fix the imperfections of front teeth while gold and metal crowns can be used for the back ones, to enhance the strength needed to restore the natural chewing and biting ability. Call us at 317-271-3079 for a consult.

When do you need a dental crown?

You may need a dental crown in one or more of the following instances –

• A tooth that has undergone root canal treatment; such teeth require additional strength to cope with the forces of mastication
• In case there are several cracks in your tooth; a dental crown ensures that you don’t face a complete fracture of that tooth in the future.
• a tooth that has chipped off at the point where it confronts the heavy forces of mastication and less than half of the tooth structure is sound; this typically requires a dental crown for reinforcement.
• A heavily restored tooth that has a fractured restoration such that less than half of the remaining tooth structure will remain to hold the bigger restoration
• A dental implant
• change the alignment of a tooth without using orthodontic measures
• blend a discolored tooth or teeth that cannot be bleached by professional teeth whitening procedures, with the adjacent teeth.

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth. Gaps left my missing teeth can eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift in to the empty spaces resulting in bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can also lead to gum disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

Bridges are made of porcelain fused metal or an all-ceramic material.

How long do dental crowns and bridges last?

The lifespan of a dental crown largely depends on the level of oral hygiene and the condition of your health. However, on average, the dental crowns may last anywhere between 5-15 years.

To find out if the procedure is right for you, call Complete Dental Care of Avon at 317-271-3079, to schedule an appointment with our dentists and discuss your options.