Crowns And Bridges

DENTAL CROWNS AND DENTAL BRIDGES EXPLAINED

Dental crowns completely cover a damaged tooth to prevent further harm and discomfort. Depending on the tooth, Dr. Ace Jovanovski will recommend either an all-porcelain dental crown or zirconia crown because they perform, feel, and look like real teeth.Like actual bridges, dental bridges fill the span between two teeth.

Why Do I Need A Crown?

Do I need a Crown? A lot of patients ask about it. Dentists have been told by their patients that they need a crown but they are worried. They imagine it’s going to look funny or it’s going to look fake. Patients also suppose crowns are costly or expensive and cost three to four times as much as filling. Patients ask questions like, why can’t I just have the filling done? Will it hurt? Why does it take two visits and/or I don’t have time for two visit what should I do? There are a lot of concerns of having a crown and all of these are totally justified.

Introduction

As we grow older, so do our teeth. Decay, trauma, fillings or even the way we chew can make our teeth wear down. Placing a crown over a weakened tooth can help from breaking or wearing down even more. Crowns are also used to restore stained or mis-shape teeth. As well as to shelter a tooth that has had a root canal. A crown may not last forever. It may need to be replaced if it has been become faulty or worn down. If you are in need of a crown, allow your dentist a couple of visits to complete this treatment.

For your first visit the doctor will numb the area around the tooth to help with any discomfort. Then your dentist will use a dental instrument to form and prep the tooth. So the crown will fit properly. Sometimes an additional procedure may need to be complete, to ensure a good fit for the crown. This procedure is generally called a buildup. Its job is to help support the crown. A mould of the tooth will be taken and a temporary crown is place to guard the prep tooth. The mould is sent to a dental lab where a customize crown is made just for you. Once the dental office receives your crown from the lab, you will get a second appointment. If you are satisfied with the shape, color and fit, the crown will be permanently cemented on your second visit.

Reasons You May Need A Crown

There are essentially several reasons you may need a crown. Some of which are list below:

Root Canal Treatment

The most obvious reason could be, you have had a root canal. In dentistry, if you have had a root canal tooth that almost automatically requires a crown. The truth is that tooth is not living anymore. The inside of the tooth has been removed due to infection and because of that it does not have the opportunity to remineralize and defend itself anymore. It will desiccate and it will drive over time. So the rule of thumb in dentistry is within six months, especially on a back tooth, get the tooth cover with a crown. The crown will protect the tooth and prevent it from splaying open or cracking under pressure when you are grinding and chewing.

Cracked Tooth

The second reason is trauma. This is a bit less straightforward but people that grind a lot or if you get to an older age, your teeth will need some repair. So if you have a little bit of a split in the tooth or a little crack. The crack is going to continue to splay or spread over time. If you put a crown over the tooth, that crack will stop in its track and it will not splay anymore. If it splays far enough, the nerve inside the tooth will be effective. Then you will be in need of a root canal, which obviously means you will need a crown for that reason alone.

Deep Cavity And Large Filling

They both are kind of the same thing. A large filling is like a big cavity and it’s going to be very close to the nerve. So again you get too close to the nerve or you harm the nerve. Well, in dentistry the rule of thumb is, if it’s greater than two-thirds the width of the tooth, then you are going to need a crown. Since, the tooth has become weak because the volume of the filling is so large and it has taken up a lot of the tooth. So this is a good indication for needing a crown.

Old Or Ugly Failing Crowns

One reason for needing a crown could be to cover a discolored or mis shaped tooth. This improves your smile and boosts your self-esteem as well.

You’ll definitely need a crown, if your reason fits any of these.

What Makes A Crown Successful?

Once the numbness has worn off and the crown is permanently placed, you may experience some soreness. There may also be slight pain when you bite or the change in temperatures may cause sensitivity for 3 to 4 days. If you are having any discomfort you may take over the counter pain medication as directed by your dentist.

If after a few days you are still experiencing discomfort and sensitivity, please call the office to make an appointment. Sometimes the crown may feel too high when you bite down. Please make an appointment to have your crown adjusted. This can also cause you to become sore. You would think that you could just get a filling. Unfortunately, when the tooth is in need of a crown, the tooth is not strong enough to support a filling. If your dentist places a filling instead of a crown, you could do more harm to that tooth in long run. Your dentist may not be able to salvage it.

The lifespan of your crown is based upon the following factors:

• Excellent dental technique
• Custom lab work
• The resources used to create it
• How well you maintain your oral hygiene
• The food and drinks you consume
• The condition of the surrounding teeth and gums

It is imperative that you continue to properly floss and brush every single one of your teeth.

Excellent Home Care

Just like natural teeth fractures, crowns do break. Also the tooth that is under the crown can still get prone to cavities. To prevent this damage or from getting cavities to your crown, excellent home care is necessary. This includes:

• Brush your teeth twice a day
• Floss between your teeth every day
• Avoid chewing hard foods and objects such as ice, pencils, especially if you have tooth-colored crowns
• See your dentist for regular checkups and professional teeth cleanings

Frequently Asked Questions

How Will It Look?

Will it look natural? Will people get to know that I have a crown in my mouth? That’s a very valid concern. There are a lot of options in that area, gold and the many different types of porcelain. If done properly a porcelain crown will look as good and in some cases better than your natural teeth. So you don’t have to worry about that. Have a discussion with your dentist and make sure he knows or she knows that you want something that blends in with all your natural teeth.

Is It Painful?

A lot of people think this is a big deal. Because it takes two visits. The first visit takes about an hour long. It is twice as long as a filling appointment. It’s the same type of anesthesia, as if you are getting a filling done. There’s a little bit more grinding involved. Although, sometimes in many ways it is more superficial than a deep filling. So whatever pain you are used to get during filling or discomfort or if you feel nothing after all that which is typically what you should be feeling, that’s about it. That’s what you are going to feel. It’s about the same. Make sure your dentist uses a lot of water spray when he is getting the tooth that will help later on.

Do Crowns Function Well?

The function of the crown is going to be great. It functions exactly like a natural tooth. It flosses the same and prevents food from getting caught in there. It’s sculpted. It’s a piece of artwork that is handmade by a lab technician and is design to look and function as your natural teeth do.

How Long Will It Last?

A lot of people are concern that they are spending more for this procedure. So how long will it last? In fact, it will last longer than a filling. Sometimes twice to thrice times as long. Depends on what type of crown and how you take care of it. But they can surely last for a long time.

How Much Will A Crown Cost?

Maybe this is the first thing that people ask and that’s valid. A crown will cause three to four times as much as a filling. But it’s a better investment over the long term.  A crown’s cost is determined by 3 main factors : Time , Quality, and Price.  In order to have a good quality crown, you need to spend extra time. Hence, the higher price. If you want a quick solution, you may experience a different range in quality.  But, its cheaper!  It has to be a balance. There are different labs that produce different qualities of crowns. The question is : What do you want in your mouth?

Conclusion

So to wrap things up, a crown is like a helmet for your tooth. It protects your teeth from the damage and prevents the loss of teeth in general. So don’t be afraid of needing a crown. It’s a part of living. Things do break. It is therefore an easy procedure that allows you to save your teeth.

Round Rock, TX dentist Dr. Ace Jovanovski will prescribe a particular kind of bridge based on the location and type of teeth being replaced, but generally, a bridge takes the place of a missing tooth and is held in place by your surrounding teeth or adjacent dental implants, in the case of implant-supported bridges.

REASONS YOU MIGHT NEED A DENTAL CROWN OR DENTAL BRIDGE

• Protect a damaged tooth
• Crowns replace a large filling or tooth that has undergone a root canal
• Cover up a badly discolored or misshapen tooth
• Provide an anchor point for a bridge
• Prevent teeth surrounding a gap from shifting out of position, resulting in a bad bite
• Replace a missing tooth or teeth
• Restore dental implants

Usually the entire process takes a month or less and will require as little as two visits. In that time, trusted Round Rock, TX dentist Dr. Ace Jovanovski will create an exact mold for the crown or bridge and reduce your natural tooth (for crowns) or teeth (for a bridge). When your dental crown or bridge is complete, he will remove the temporary and carefully cement the permanent restoration in place.

Don’t settle for anything less than a specialist. Call 512-716-1200 or fill out our online form today to schedule your first dental crown or bridge consultation with Round Rock, TX dentist Dr. Ace Jovanovski.

Dr. Ace Jovanovski, a Round Rock, TX dentist, is the only dentist the world who’s received a Master Certificate in Dental Technology (MCDT) from the National Board for Certification in Dental Technology.