Have you heard the term crown from your dentist without really understanding what they are talking about? Some people also use the word “cap”. The use of different words and the assumption that you know exactly what we are talking about can lead to some confusion.
In dentistry, we use the term “crown” in two different ways. One use describes a specific portion of a natural tooth, and the other describes a dental restoration.
When considering the anatomy of a tooth, the crown is the portion covered by enamel. In a healthy mouth, the crown is the only portion of the tooth not covered by gum tissue. In unhealthy mouths, often both the crown and root are exposed to the mouth due to gum recession. In an opposite, but also unhealthy, scenario, the crowns can be covered by inflamed gum tissue so that they are not fully exposed to the mouth.
We also use the word crown to describe a type of dental restoration that covers the entire anatomical crown of a tooth. Enamel functions as a protective covering of the exposed portion of a tooth, and if something disrupts this protective covering, you have to replace it with an artificial one. A dental crown restores a tooth back to its correct shape, size, contour, and function.
There are several reasons that a tooth could need a crown. Because its purpose is to restore a crown back to normal form and function, the overall problem causing the need for a crown is breakdown of the tooth. A crown can also serve protective and preventive purposes.
When decay destroys tooth structure, a dentist’s ability to rebuild it with a filling depends on how much good, healthy tooth structure is left. In general, if less than half of the tooth remains after cavity removal, the tooth cannot support a filling and requires a crown to properly restore it.
A dental crown may be necessary to rebuild a tooth that suffers extreme wear or breakdown from other damaging factors besides cavities. People who clench and/or grind their teeth heavily can remove significant amounts of enamel. Enamel is also at risk for acid erosion from severe acid reflux or bad habits with acidic foods & drinks (like sucking on lemons).
Heavy clenching and/or grinding at night can also lead to cracks in the teeth. A tooth with a fracture that goes past the enamel into the core structure of the tooth requires a crown to hold the tooth together and prevent further spreading of the crack.
A root canal treatment removes the nerves and blood vessels from within the hollow chamber of a tooth. It is necessary to remove inflamed and infected soft tissue that can damage the surrounding jawbone. Because a root canal treatment removes the blood vessels, it removes the source of hydration from a tooth. This leads to a dehydration of the tooth, making it brittle and very likely to break. A crown is necessary to cover the tooth and protect it from breaking in its newly dehydrated state.
There are several different materials available with which dentists can make crowns. We can break it down into four categories.
Call today to schedule a consultation. We can answer any question you have about crowns and determine whether any of your teeth need them.