The Benefits of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns reinforce a decayed or damaged tooth, restoring its function and beauty. These are just two of the many benefits of crowns. For instance, they also require minimal aftercare. If you are dealing with a broken or root canal-treated tooth, consider this popular dental restoration.

5 benefits of dental crowns

1. Restore severely damaged or decayed teeth

Dental crowns can restore a variety of dental conditions. They are common for root canal surgery, placed on the treated tooth after removing tooth decay. Other conditions that crowns may fix include:

• Fractured cusps (the pointed edges on the chewing surfaces of the teeth)
• Cracked teeth, including cracks that reach into the tooth’s center (pulp)
• Tooth stains or discoloration, such as from beverages and aging
• Worn-down teeth, such as from teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Weakened teeth, such as due to enamel deterioration

2. A permanent dental restoration

Crowns are permanent restorations, with an average lifespan of five to 15 years. They are highly durable, functioning like natural teeth when the patient drinks, chews, and talks. There is no need to worry that the dental crown will fall out during day-to-day activities.

One caveat is that patients should avoid chewing very hard, tough, or sticky foods with their dental crowns. They do not need to give up these foods completely; they should simply chew them with the other teeth or side of the mouth. Examples include toffee, tough meats, and popcorn kernels.

3. Custom-made for each patient

Dental crowns are made to fit perfectly on each patient’s problem tooth. This is achieved by taking impressions of the problem tooth and creating a customized crown. If choosing a tooth-colored crown, such as a pressed ceramic or porcelain crown, the dentist will also ensure that the crown's shade matches that of the surrounding teeth.

4. A simple placement process

Two appointments may be needed to get a crown, but the procedure itself is simple. The first appointment is to treat the dental condition (for instance, removing tooth decay and any infection during a root canal) and take impressions. The dentist will likely need to sculpt the tooth, leaving it too small to function on its own. During the second appointment, the dentist will apply dental cement to secure the crown in place. Note that patients will have a temporary crown to use between these two appointments.

5. Require minimal aftercare

One of the main benefits of dental crowns is that they require minimal aftercare. To maintain a crown's integrity, patients can simply continue practicing good dental hygiene (brushing, flossing, rinsing with mouthwash, and regular dental visits). As an extra precaution, they may wear a mouthguard while playing sports. Similarly, patients with bruxism should wear a nightguard.