3 Signs You Might Need Dental Crowns

Posted on: 15 April 2022

A dental crown is an artificial cap placed permanently on a tooth to protect it from damage. Dentists recommend dental crowns for people who have damaged teeth vulnerable to incurring further damage or getting infected.

If you are unsure whether to get a dental crown, here are three signs that let you know you need to get one installed immediately. 

1. You Have Broken, Chipped, or Fractured Teeth

If a tooth breaks or incurs a fracture or a chip, the space created by the fracture or chip is sufficient for bacteria to access the pulp and nerves of your tooth. When germs and bacteria enter the nerves and pulp of the tooth, it causes an infection, and if you neglect the infection, the tooth could eventually decay and fall out.

A dental crown can prevent such a scenario if you get one as soon as the fracture or chip occurs. Dental crowns prevent bacteria and germs from accessing the tooth's nerves and pulp, thus preventing the development of an infection. A dental crown also prevents the fracture or chip from expanding when you chew hard foods.

2. You Had a Filling or Root Canal 

Root canal procedures involve removing decayed or infected sections on the inner part of the tooth. Before the procedure can start, a dentist has to drill open your tooth so they can get to the infected or decayed parts of the tooth. After the root canal procedure, a dentist seals the void left behind with filling.

Though the filling is quite sturdy, it is still susceptible to erosion caused by chewing or grinding your teeth. As a result, dentists recommend that their patients get dental crowns when they get a filling or root canal done because a dental crown prevents the filling from eroding.

3. You Have a Severe Cavity 

When you have a severe cavity that occupies a significant portion of your tooth, a filling may not be feasible. To carry out a filling, the cavity has to be significantly small, and the walls of your tooth must be intact to hold the filling. Therefore, if your cavity is too large for a filling, a dentist will recommend a dental crown in place of a filling.  

When a large cavity occurs, the tooth's support structure is compromised. A filling relies on tooth structure to stay in place, and thus it is not a viable option. However, a dental crown can provide the support needed to prevent the tooth from breaking apart.

Even if you choose a filling, you should also get a dental crown to protect the filling from eroding. 

For more info about dental crowns, contact a local dentist. 

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