New Bern, NC dentist Dr. J Stephen Hoard offers dental crowns to patients to help them restore their natural smile without the need for tooth extraction. Dental crowns allow patients who have damaged teeth to keep their natural teeth intact, which means a faster recovery time and less hassle for you. Dr. Hoard is here to offer his top 3 things to know about dental crowns and how they work to keep your healthy, natural smile in place.
1. Dental crowns reduce pain
Dental crowns are most often used to complete a restorative dental treatment, such as after a root canal or tooth fracture. While teeth have a solid exterior, the interior of the teeth is made of tissue that can become infected, which needs to be removed to stop tooth pain. Once this tissue, called the pulp, is removed, the tooth needs to be sealed to prevent further tooth sensitivity or additional infection. A dental crown is what seals the tooth to prevent sensitivity and eliminate pain after tooth decay is treated.
2. Crowns are custom-made to fit your individual smile
While this sounds like a complicated procedure, treating a damaged tooth with a dental crown is a straightforward treatment. Once the restorative treatment is complete, Dr. Hoard will shape your tooth so that the crown can fit securely on top. Next, he will take a mold of the tooth that will be used to create your custom dental crown, which will match the size, hue, and shape of your natural teeth. You will receive a temporary crown while your crown is prepared in a dental laboratory. After about two weeks, your dental crown is ready to be placed on your tooth, where it becomes a permanent part of your smile.
3. Crowns can restore your smile for a long time
Dental crowns are used to complete root canals or repair damage, but they can also be used to help you achieve your cosmetic dentistry goals. Some patients opt for dental crowns to correct discoloration, staining, cracks, and misalignments, and crowns are used for dental bridges to anchor surrounding teeth. A key benefit of crowns is that they last a long time, even longer than veneers or cosmetic bonding, which means that you can keep your smile healthy for many years.
If you are ready to learn how dental crowns can work for your unique oral health goals, contact Dr. Hoard online or call our New Bern, NC dentist office at (252) 507-0373 today.