Have you chipped a tooth, lost a large filling or undergone root canal therapy? Dental crowns from Dr. Krystal DeClerck in Findlay, OH, address these issues and more. A predictable and often-used alternative to dental extraction, porcelain crowns replace large amounts of damaged enamel, recreating excellent aesthetics and oral function.

How crowns restore damaged teeth

Basically, a crown is a tooth-shaped jacket of premium-quality porcelain. It encases the healthy parts of an injured tooth, recreating its natural appearance, matching its neighboring teeth and allowing it to bite and chew normally once again. A crown covers the tooth above the gum line and spares a tooth from additional fillings or even extraction.

Dr. DeClerck can tell from examination and digital X-ray imaging if your tooth is a good candidate for a porcelain crown. Sometimes, when a tooth is infected or severely fractured, she will perform root canal therapy first to stave off infection, relieve pain and seal the tooth against further bacterial invasion.

Steps to a crown

1. Dr. DeClerck will anesthetize the tooth and when it's numb, remove the damaged areas. She'll shape the tooth to receive the crown. Sometimes, she adds a post to create adequate supporting structure.

2. The Findlay dentist takes oral impressions. These negative imprints of the tooth and the ones adjacent to it help the dental lab fabricate your crown with proper size, shape, and bite.

3. Your dentist places a temporary restoration over the tooth so it looks and functions as normally as possible while the permanent crown is made.

4. You return to DeClerck Family Dental to permanently bonding of the new dental crown. Because of advanced fabrication processes, most crowns fit well right away. However, most patients need a few days to adjust to this new restoration, say experts at the Cleveland Clinic.

Crowns have other uses

Crowns also play a role in tooth replacement procedures. For instance, some people opt to replace one or more missing teeth with an appliance called a bridge. Composed of one or more pontic, or artificial teeth, bridges affix to adjacent healthy teeth on opposite ends of a smile gap. The adjacent teeth, also known as abutment teeth, must be ground down to receive porcelain crowns which hold the artificial teeth in place.

Also, crowns restore dental implants. These highly successful tooth replacements have three parts: a titanium implant which resides in the jaw bone, a metal alloy abutment, or extension post, and a crown to finish off the artificial tooth.

You and your crown

You should enjoy a great partnership for ten years or more as long as you floss, brush and get your six-month cleanings and examinations with Dr. DeClerck. Also, ask her about a bite guard if you grind your teeth. This acrylic appliance will save your teeth, and your crown, from undue wear and tear.

Find out more

For more information on crowns or the other fine restorative dental services DeClerck Family Dental provides, please call your dentist in Findlay, OH, at (419) 422-8972 for an appointment.