Do I Need a Dental Crown? 5 Signs It May Be Time to Restore Your Tooth
A damaged or weakened tooth doesn’t always need to be extracted. In many cases, a dental crown can protect the natural tooth, restore its strength, and help you get back to eating and smiling comfortably.
At Advanced Brookline Dental, we provide custom dental crowns in Brookline, MA, to restore teeth affected by decay, cracks, wear, and other damage. If you’re experiencing changes in one of your teeth, knowing the common signs that a crown may be needed can help you seek treatment before the problem becomes more serious.
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a custom restoration designed to cover the visible portion of a damaged or weakened tooth. Once placed, the crown helps protect the underlying tooth while restoring its shape, strength, and function.
Crowns can also improve the appearance of a tooth. Modern dental materials allow your restoration to be designed to complement the shape and appearance of the surrounding teeth for a natural-looking result.
So, how do you know when you might need one?
1. You Have a Cracked or Broken Tooth
A small chip may sometimes be repaired with a more conservative treatment, but significant cracks or fractures can compromise the strength of a tooth.
A dental crown surrounds and protects the weakened tooth, helping distribute the forces of biting and chewing while reducing the risk of further damage. If you’ve cracked a tooth while eating or noticed that part of a tooth has broken away, it’s important to have it evaluated promptly.
2. You Have a Large or Failing Filling
Dental fillings are an effective way to repair cavities, but a tooth with a particularly large filling may have less healthy tooth structure remaining.
Over time, the tooth or filling can begin to weaken. If there isn’t enough healthy tooth structure to reliably support another filling, your dentist may recommend a crown to provide additional protection and stability.
3. Your Tooth Is Worn Down
Teeth can gradually become worn due to grinding, clenching, bite issues, or years of everyday use. Significant wear can change the shape of your teeth, affect your bite, or make chewing uncomfortable.
Depending on the extent of the damage, a dental crown may be used to rebuild the tooth to a healthier shape and size. If you regularly grind or clench your teeth, your dentist can also help determine how to protect your restoration and surrounding teeth from future wear.
4. You’ve Had a Root Canal
Root canal treatment can save a tooth that has become infected or severely damaged. However, the tooth may need additional protection afterward.
For many back teeth in particular, a crown may be recommended following root canal treatment to restore strength and help protect the tooth during normal biting and chewing.
Your dentist will evaluate the location and condition of the tooth to determine the most appropriate restoration following treatment.
5. You Have a Severely Discolored or Misshapen Tooth
Dental crowns aren’t only used to restore function. In certain cases, they can also address cosmetic concerns.
A crown can completely cover the visible portion of a tooth, making it possible to improve its shape, size, and appearance. For teeth with significant discoloration or structural concerns that cannot be adequately addressed with treatments such as whitening or bonding, a crown may provide a more comprehensive solution.
What Can I Expect When Getting a Dental Crown?
At Advanced Brookline Dental, receiving a dental crown typically requires two visits.
During your first appointment, we evaluate the tooth and prepare it for the restoration. Precise impressions are taken so your custom crown can be created, and a temporary crown is placed to protect your tooth in the meantime.
At your second visit, the completed crown is securely placed. We carefully check its fit, appearance, and your bite to make sure the restoration feels comfortable and blends naturally with your smile.
Our Brookline dental office uses advanced technology, including digital scanning and imaging, to help make restorative treatment precise, efficient, and comfortable.
How Long Does a Dental Crown Last?
Dental crowns are designed to be durable, but their lifespan depends on factors such as the crown material, your oral hygiene, eating habits, and whether you grind or clench your teeth.
With proper care, a dental crown can often last 10 to 15 years or longer. You can help protect your crown by brushing and flossing consistently, avoiding chewing extremely hard objects, and keeping up with routine dental checkups and cleanings.
It’s also important to remember that the tooth underneath a crown still requires care. Maintaining healthy gums and preventing decay around the edges of your restoration can help your crown last as long as possible.
Should I Get a Crown or a Filling?
The right treatment depends largely on how much healthy tooth structure remains.
A filling may be sufficient when damage or decay affects a relatively small portion of the tooth. When a tooth has lost more of its natural structure or needs additional protection, a crown may be the better long-term solution.
There are also treatments that fall between a filling and a full crown, including dental inlays and onlays. The best way to determine which restoration is appropriate is to have the tooth examined by a dentist.
Protect Your Smile With Dental Crowns in Brookline, MA
Tooth damage can worsen over time, so you don’t have to wait until a tooth becomes painful to have it checked.
At Advanced Brookline Dental, Dr. Laura Galiazzo provides personalized restorative dentistry with an emphasis on comfort, precision, and natural-looking results. Conveniently located in Coolidge Corner in Brookline, MA, our office welcomes patients from Brookline and surrounding Greater Boston communities.
If you have a cracked, worn, damaged, or weakened tooth, schedule an appointment to find out whether a dental crown can help protect your smile and restore comfortable function.