If you are planning to have a restorative dental procedure, a dental crown is likely involved. Here are a few ways that dental crowns are used to restore your teeth:

Cavity Treatment

Cavities develop as bacterial acids demineralize the teeth. The resulting hole within the tooth enamel can permit bacteria to enter the interior of a tooth and incite an infection.

Even after a dentist removes the decayed portion of a tooth, further treatment is usually needed to protect the tooth from bacterial invasion. In addition, structural support may be needed to reinforce the tooth after much of its material has been removed. Thus, a dental crown is often applied to a tooth after a large cavity has been removed. 

The dental crown used in a cavity restoration may or may not be tooth-colored. The color of crowns that are made of porcelain, porcelain-over-metal, or resin may be matched to the natural color of the teeth. These crowns may be preferred for restorations that are located near the front of the mouth. However, metal crowns that are made of materials, such as silver or stainless steel, may be preferred for back teeth.

The back teeth withstand a large amount of bite pressure, and metal crowns do not crack or chip. Porcelain or other ceramic materials may be more apt to become damaged from the constant wear associated with grinding food. Thus, porcelain crowns are often better suited for the front teeth.

Bridge Restoration for a Lost Tooth

When a person loses a tooth, the loss can make it difficult to chew properly. In addition, the loss can have a negative impact on the facial appearance. 

One option to restore a missing tooth is a dental bridge. Still, a fixed dental bridge has to have a way to stay secured in the mouth. Dental crowns provide a method of attaching a dental bridge to the existing teeth. 

Dental crowns that are components of dental bridges are usually positioned at each end of a bridge. The crowns fit over the teeth that border the gap left by the missing tooth. Once the crowns are cemented to the underlying teeth, the bridge is fixed in the mouth. The stability provided by the attachment of the crowns to the teeth is sufficient to withstand the pressure of normal pressures of chewing. In addition, since the bridge crowns are typically tooth-colored and look like natural teeth, the look of the patient's smile is also fully restored.

To learn more ways that dental crowns are used to restore the teeth, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your local area, like Four Corners Dental Group. 

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