How we preserve weak, broken, decayed, and otherwise damaged teeth with versatile crowns
Crowns are a truly crowning achievement in dentistry. And at Gloucester Family Dentistry, we are proud to provide this versatile, conservative, tooth-preserving treatment option to our valued patients in greater Ottawa and eastern Ontario.
Get to know crowns
A crown is a type of dental restoration. Restorations are dental materials prepared and shaped to treat damage such as fractures or dental decay. Once metal or ceramic materials like porcelain are shaped and secured to the natural tooth, the restoration effectively “restores” the strength, structure, health, function, and appearance of the damaged tooth. Crowns may be an appropriate treatment for patients whose teeth are not well-suited to other types of restorations. For instance, large cavities require big fillings. Large fillings are vulnerable to further damage. So, a crown may be better suited to build up a tooth with a big cavity or large area of damage caused by decay.
A crown may also be in your future if our dentist, Dr. Fuad Tanha, examines the affected tooth and finds that it has sustained:
- Certain types of cracks that could threaten the health of the tooth
- Excessive wear and tear
- Trauma due to falls or blows to the face (sports-related oral injuries)
- Damage to the innermost pulp tissues
In fact, a crown following root canal therapy may be the only way to preserve a badly decayed tooth with pulp damage. By preserving the tooth, we avoid extraction or the removal of the tooth. Your smile stays complete! Crowns are also used for big cosmetic cases, such as to alter the appearance of a very misshapen tooth. Another nod to its versatility, the crown may be the final step in tooth replacement with a dental implant, and a few crowns are used to anchor a dental bridge.
The process
If Dr. Tanha, in partnership with you, determines that a crown is the best step forward for your smile and health, we will start by removing any damaged tissues. So, it’s kind of like giving your tooth a fresh start. The remaining tooth structure is also reshaped to prepare it to “accept” the crown that will go on top and cover the natural tissue. We then take impressions of the prepared tooth and its neighbours, which are later used by our talented lab to make the crown.
A temporary crown is placed to protect the treatment site and encourage healing. Once the permanent crown is made, we simply remove the temporary, confirm that all looks and feels great, and then secure it to the tooth. You won’t feel a thing throughout the process due to our use of precise anesthetic. There is also no special care for your crown. Just treat it with the same care that you do your natural, unaltered teeth – with consistent brushing and flossing and recall visits to our office in Gloucester, Ottawa, ON, for professional cleanings and exams.
Give us a call at (613) 319-0845 with questions and to schedule your visit. Your healthiest, most comfortable and most brilliant-looking smile awaits!