When is a Crown Necessary?

Dental crowns are generally placed on teeth that have had severe wear and tear. “It is many times considered the best restoration in that it completely covers the entire top of the tooth,” says Dr. Judith Ko of HemetValley Dental Care in California.

But how do you know if a crown is the right restoration for you? Here are a few things to ask and consider when discussing your treatment with your dentist.

     1.    What percentage of the tooth has been impacted? Most of the time a crown is recommended when a substantial part of the tooth structure is decaying or fracturing. “A fracturing tooth can many times impact the nerve, resulting in endodontic or root canal treatment,” adds Dr. Ko.

     2.    What other options exist? Generally your dentist will thoroughly discuss all options for treatment with you prior to beginning your crown. They may discuss the option of a filling, inlay or onlay and should explain why they do not believe they are the best options for you.

     3.    If the tooth is so damaged, will the tooth need a root canal? As mentioned above, teeth where crowns are recommended are generally in trouble. This could mean that your dentist will advise you to have endodontic treatment immediately, or they may wish to wait and see how extensive the damage is before taking any further action.

     4.    How soon should the crown be done? Almost always the answer to this question is now. Teeth requiring crowns for treatment are in serious trouble – how serious may be unknown, but they will never get better by waiting.

Cosmetic Dentistry in Hemet, California

Ever wondered, what is a Cosmetic Dentist?

Cosmetic dentistry is generally done to improve the color, shape or alignment of the teeth. "Cosmetic dentistry can improve self confidence and even your health," Dr. Judith Ko says from her Hemet Valley Dental Practice. 

Cosmetic procedures can be any of the following:

1. Whitening. When teeth are stained, whitening is a easy and affordable way to restore a smile to its whitest.

2. White Fillings. Composite material is generally used to create white fillings that can be matched to natural teeth. This material also has an additional benefit, it does an excellent job of bonding to the tooth and can prevent future breakage, unlike a silver, or amalgam filling.

3. Porcelain Inlays or Onlays. These lab fabricated fillings are also a great way to restore tooth structure and at the same time keep a smile at it's best.

4. Porcelain Crowns & Fixed Bridges. These are lab fabricated and can be created to change the shape of a tooth to form a lovely and natural smile.

5. Porcelain Veneers. Veneers are thin wafer-like porcelain facings that can be placed to change the shape of a tooth.

6. Tissue re-contouring. The gum tissue creating a frame around your teeth can be modified and evened out to really showcase beautiful teeth.

7. Orthodontics. When the teeth are not in alignment, seeing an orthodontist might be the best fix. Misaligned teeth can cause not only a poor smile, but also create challenges for eating.

"Cosmetic dentistry really covers a large range of procedures," adds Dr. Judith Ko. "All of them designed to create a more youthful look and a brighter smile."

Dental Crown

A dental crown is generally recommended when a tooth has sustained significant damage due to decay or impact. "A crown is the best restorative procedure your dentist can provide for a tooth," says Dr. Judith Ko from her Hemet, California general and cosmetic dental practice. 

A filling is recommended when the decay is limited in scope, but once several surfaces of the tooth are involved, there may be little structure for a filling to adhere to. "Not only that, but with so much damage many times the nerve of the tooth is impacted or could be if additional tooth is lost due to breakage," Dr. Ko adds. Placing a crown may actually prevent the need for a future root canal treatment.

To have a crown done means a couple of appointments. At the first appointment your dentist will carefully clean out all the decay. A build-up may be recommended if there is very little tooth left to create something for the crown to fasten to. An impression will be taken of the tooth, which will be sent to a laboratory for the custom creation of your crown. A temporary or provision crown will then be created in the office to provide you with protection while the permanent crown is being fabricated. Two to three weeks later, your final crown will be ready. At this second appointment, your temporary crown will be removed and the final crown cemented in place. 

After that, its ready to be brushed and flossed, just like all your other natural teeth.