Crowns: Versatile applications, options for materials, and conservative alternatives

Accidents can happen even with years of consistent good brushing, flossing, and regular visits to our office in Flower Mound, Texas. Severe cracks can arise. Trauma can occur. Any time there is severe damage to the natural crown, the white part of the tooth that is visible above the gum line in your smile, a dental crown made by our lab partners may be recommended.

More specifically, if damage has been sustained to the cusps — those pointy or rounded projections present on the chewing teeth or molars – full dental crowns are likely on the horizon. Flower Mound Dental mentions these back teeth because they tend to be more vulnerable to a leading cause of tooth loss: dental decay. Food particles, bacteria, and plaque get caught in their grooved or pitted surfaces. Plus, they are harder to clean than teeth in your smile zone and may even get a little less TLC than they need because no one sees them!

As a proactive, gentle, and exceptional dentistry provider, Dr. William E. Wyatt, Jr. tries to avoid this problem by recommending professional preventive services like dental sealants. These thin coverings protect these vulnerable back teeth from the substances that cause decay and can then threaten the structural integrity and health of the tooth.

Dental crowns are incredibly versatile for teeth that have already sustained damage. They may be prepared, designed, fabricated, and placed to:

  • Hold together pieces of a broken tooth
  • Restore a tooth with a large cavity
  • Replace an extensive or worn filling
  • Preserve a tooth that has been treated with root canal therapy
  • Replace a tooth as part of a bridge (neighboring teeth are crowned to support the prosthetic tooth)
  • Replace a tooth with dental implants (crowns are attached to implants designed to function like tooth roots in the jaw)
  • Improve the aesthetics of a severely misshapen tooth, and correct other cosmetic concerns affecting teeth that are not good candidates for procedures such as dental bonding or porcelain veneers

Additionally, various dental materials can be used to make your lovely and strong crown. These materials include metals like gold and ceramics like porcelain. Dr. Wyatt is happy to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each material with you. There is sure to be an option well-suited to your needs, preferences, budget, and the many other factors that can influence your choice of treatment.

Call (972) 351-8555 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Wyatt at our Flower Mound, TX office. More conservative restorative options may be in your future, depending on what we find and discuss with you. These alternatives include dental inlays and onlays, used to repair teeth with damage to the chewing surface or at least one cusp when the damage is not sufficiently severe to warrant a full-coverage crown.