Strong dental crowns in Seminole, FL for the lasting health and beauty of your smile
Your tooth is only as strong as its “armor.” When this outer enamel covering is damaged, we at Boulevard Dental in and Seminole, FL can rebuild your tooth’s natural defenses. Drs Wujick, Clark, and Castillo do so with durable dental crowns that look, feel, and function like natural tooth structure.
Protection, as nature intended
A natural, healthy tooth has three layers. Working from the outside inward, those layers are: the protective enamel, the softer and more yellow dentin, and the pulp tissue at the center of the tooth. The pulp contains nerves and blood vessels. Once the tooth has matured, it no longer depends on the pulp for its survival. For this reason, root canal therapy can be a healthy option to “save” a badly damaged tooth. During the process, the damaged pulp tissue is removed. Root canal therapy is generally followed with a dental crown, which restores the visible part of the tooth above the gumline.
While enamel is stronger than skeletal bone, it is not impervious. Enamel may be eroded due to any number of threats, including the process of tooth decay. The bacteria in plaque make destructive acids when they come in contact with starches and sugars in foods and drinks. For this reason, we must prevent the build-up of plaque with good oral hygiene at home and professional visits to the dentist’s office.
Wear and tear from behaviors such as clenching and grinding your teeth can also erode enamel. As enamel is degraded, the dentin layer is exposed. You may experience sensitivity. Without treatment, the process continues. As the deeper layers of the tooth are affected, more extensive restorative treatments are necessary to restore oral health and healthy function. Sometimes, the tooth is not repairable, even with nonsurgical root canal therapy or other endodontic procedures. In those cases, teeth must be extracted and replaced with conventional or implant-supported bridges or dentures.
Crowns to the rescue
When the visible part of the tooth that is weakened due to decay, fractures, or other trauma, a dental crown may be made to replace the damaged tooth structure. The vulnerable tissue is removed. The natural tooth structure is shaped. And your new crown is built to your exact specifications. It is designed to fit over the natural tooth, reinforcing it and protecting it from external forces that can threaten the structural integrity of the tooth. Crowns may be made from dental ceramics, such as porcelain; metal alloys; or a combination of ceramics and metals. Patients with damaged front teeth may gravitate toward porcelain crowns due to how the material mimics the aesthetic properties of natural enamel. So, the location and function of the tooth to be crowned is a consideration when selecting from an array of strong and cosmetic materials.
Dental Crowns FAQS
Crowns may be in your future if the tooth’s structural integrity is compromised. Your tooth may be vulnerable to irreversible damage due to progressive decay, fractures, and extreme wear and tear from untreated conditions like bruxism.
Yes. A tooth can be perfectly healthy, but you may not like its color, shape, or size. We can reshape, resize, and otherwise enhance the appearance of your tooth by crafting and placing a dental crown on top of it.
While root canal therapy preserves badly damaged teeth, it can also weaken the tooth. To restore its strength and prevent future damage, we ask that you return to our office promptly for the placement of a beautiful and durable dental crown. In fact, delays in obtaining a permanent crown are among the leading causes of root canal treatment failures. Temporary restorations may allow bacteria to seep into the tooth and cause further damage.
Yes. Crowns are versatile. Our dentists offer dental bridges and dental implants to replace a single tooth, a few teeth, or many teeth. Both of these options involve placing dental crowns.
Traditional bridges consist of at least one prosthetic tooth (pontic) and two dental crowns. The pontic(s) and crowns are attached to each other. We shave down the neighboring teeth next to your gap. Once these teeth are reduced, our dentists place crowns on them. The pontic effectively fills the space, and the neighboring teeth serve as anchors to support the bridge.
Implants are surgically placed in the jawbone. They are designed from materials like titanium that naturally fuse to the bone. After the implant and bone have grown together, one of our dentists will attach a strong and highly aesthetic crown. The crown restores the visible part of the tooth above the gum line, while the implant serves as a root to hold the restoration in place.
Treat your crowned tooth like you would the rest of your teeth. Use a soft-bristled brush, fluoride toothpaste, floss, and other non-abrasive oral care products as recommended by our team. When your crowns are part of a bridge, we may recommend special floss threaders or interdental brushes. These products help to thoroughly remove food particles from tight, hard-to-reach spaces under the bridge. If we suspect that you grind your teeth, a nightguard may be custom-fitted to your mouth. When worn before bed, it protects your teeth and dental work from damage caused by the force of chronic grinding and clenching.
It’s not unusual for the area around your mouth to feel a little sore as the numbing wears off. The tooth may also feel a bit bulky or strange at first. As your tissues adapt, such discomfort or odd sensations should subside. If you have persistent or sharp pain, or if the crown feels too high, contact us right away so we can evaluate it and make any necessary adjustments.
Do not wait for issues to arise to contact us! Schedule your appointment at our office today (727) 308-6224.
