Have you been told by a dentist that you will need to get a crown on one of your teeth? If so, you might be nervous about the procedure especially if you have never had a crown. The following are a few things you should know about crowns and your dental health.
Purpose
Your dentist has likely recommended a crown for your tooth to protect it from decaying more. Crowns form a protective barrier between decayed or damaged teeth and foods or bacteria that could make the damage or decay worse.
Permanency
Unfortunately, dental crowns do not always last a lifetime. This is why it is important to go to your routine dental exams. The exams help dentists determine whether crowns are intact. It is possible for crowns to become loosened between appointments. You might experience pain or sensitivity if this occurs. Ignoring a loose crown will place the affected tooth at risk. It is also likely that the crown will eventually fall off.
Materials
Perhaps you have seen people with metal crowns and did not find them aesthetically appealing. There are other materials such as porcelain that are also used for crowns. Even if a dentist decides to use a metal crown for your procedure, there are tooth-colored options, which means that you will still be able to discreetly wear your crown. Some dentists favor metal because it is durable. If you have a metal sensitivity, inform the dentist.
Process
Many people who require crowns also need to have root canals performed. If a root canal is not needed, then the crown placement is a fairly simple procedure. Root canals are needed when there is dead tissue or decay that needs to be removed. Dentists cannot place crowns over infected teeth because the decay would continue. Some people are afraid of root canals, but there have been advancements in technology that make these procedures more bearable. For example, sedation could be used if a patient has dental anxiety.
Alternatives
There are not too many options if you are against the dentist's recommendation. Your tooth will likely continue to decay and either fall out or need to be extracted at some point. Perhaps you are thinking that the tooth is not causing you any pain and therefore is not a problem, but it could be painful in the future. It is also possible for the decay to progress and result in an infection, which could enter your bloodstream and cause significant health problems.
For more information, visit websites like http://www.sunnysidedentistryforchildren.com.
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