When is a crown necessary?

A dental crown is an important solution in restorative dentistry. It helps to restore the functionality and aesthetics in a situation when the natural tooth is seriously damaged or completely extracted.

One of the most common problems in oral health is tooth decay. If the patient neglects the condition and delays professional treatment, the infection may spread to the dental pulp, causing a large cavity. If the cavity is too big to be covered by a filling, the dentist may decide on placing a crown to strengthen the tooth structure. In the absence of a crown, the tooth may not be able to withstand the biting and chewing pressure because of its weakened foundation.

The crown plays a key role in strengthening and protecting the tooth structure when it is weakened. An injury or severe trauma to the tooth may cause a fracture in the tooth. In such a situation, the dentist will try to conserve the natural tooth structure as far as possible, just as in case of tooth decay. A crown can help to prevent the fracture from worsening or more parts of the tooth from breaking off.

A crown is also used in the case of a dental implant. When a tooth is extracted and replaced with an implant, it needs a crown or a cap to cover the implant with a close replication of the original tooth. Good quality crowns can last for a long time if they are placed perfectly by an experienced dentist.

Gold is the strongest and the most biocompatible material for crowns, but it compromises the facial aesthetics if the crown is required for any of the front teeth. For back teeth, a gold crown may be used and it will usually have a very long life. However, for the front teeth it is important to use a tooth colored crown in order to maintain the aesthetic value of the patient’s teeth.

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