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This question is often asked after a patient is told that he or she needs a crown to restore a tooth, thinking that a simple filling will be sufficient. One may think that the filling is enough but there are several common reasons why this is not so:
- When a tooth fractures or loses a large part or wall, it becomes weakened. If there is more than one-half of the tooth missing, it is more susceptible to further breakage. A crown is able to take that tooth and brace it, preventing fracture.
- When a tooth has a large old filling with decay underneath, the old filling must be removed along with the decay, leaving very little tooth structure to build upon. In this case, the crown would replace all missing tooth structure.
- When a patient presents with a sharp, fleeting pain when biting or chewing, he or she may have what is called cracked tooth syndrome. In this case, the crown braces the tooth and the fracture, resulting in the elimination of the pain.
- When a tooth has had a root canal, the tooth becomes brittle over time and prone to fracture. The crown will stabilize the tooth, preventing fracture and future reinfection. The crowns at Lund Dental are made by premier dental laboratories in the United States using the finest, high quality materials. A computerized instrument, ShadeVision is used to match and blend the crown with the patient’s existing teeth. A digital scanner is used to take a digital impression of the tooth eliminating the need for messy impression material and resulting in a perfectly fitting crown.
Author: Mary DeMaina, Dental Assistant at Lund Dental Associates
