Dental Crowns
The outer covering of your teeth, the enamel, is the hardest substance in your body, including bone. At the same time, teeth are also as brittle as glass. Your teeth undergo extreme pressure day in and day out. When a tooth becomes weakened in some way, it is more susceptible to breaking or cracking under that pressure. A dental crown is a general dentistry treatment that protects a compromised tooth and adds stability.
A tooth that has a very large cavity is an example of a weakened tooth. In most situations when a tooth requires a very large filling, the dentist will recommend that the tooth is crowned to give it the strength to withstand the pressure of chewing. Root canal therapy can also weaken a tooth. Once the nerve of a tooth is removed, the tooth is essentially dead. This usually leads to the tooth being more brittle than usual and therefore subject to damage. Crowning such a tooth can protect it from harm.
Dental crowns are made from a variety of durable materials. Some are created from porcelain fused to gold alloy or another base metal. They are also made from ceramic resins – a mixture of plastic and ceramics. Occasionally, crowns will be made from stainless steel or gold alloy. Your dentist will determine the best materials for your crown and discuss the options with you.