Crowns

What is a Crown?

Crowns are made of metal, ceramic, or a combination of the two and require very high temperatures in converting the carved was representation into the finished product. Crowns are fitted to a model of your mouth that is made at the time the teeth are prepared in your mouth. The crown is shaped and fitted to this model in the laboratory before the dentist tries it in your mouth. This process ensures that the crown will have a fit and appearance that will last for many years.

When are Crowns Needed?

When a tooth is fractured, severely damaged by decay, or has a large old filing, a crown (also called a cap) is often placed. A crown strengthens the tooth, protects the remaining tooth structure and can improve appearance.

The location of the tooth, the intensity of the bite, and your requirements as a patient are some of the factors used in deciding which type of crown is best for you.

Root Canals

Endodontic treatment can safely and comfortably save a tooth that otherwise would have to be removed. In fact, root canal therapy is successful approximately 95% of the time. Remember, a healthy restored tooth is always better than an artificial one.

Why couldn't you just remove the tooth?

The choice is yours, but there are many disadvantages to losing a tooth. When a tooth is removed and not replaced, the teeth next to the empty space begin to shift from their normal position. This may cause teeth to become crooked or crowded, which decreases chewing and biting efficiency. Crowded or crooked teeth may be more prone to dental disease because they are harder to keep clean than properly aligned teeth. As a result, other teeth may be lost if the missing tooth is not replaced.

A replacement tooth (an implant or a bridge) is usually more expensive than Endodontic treatment and involves more extensive dental procedures on adjacent teeth.

Bleeding

Your dentist will place a gauze pack on the extraction site to limit bleeding and confine the blood while clotting takes place. This gauze pack should be left in place for 30 to 45 minutes after you leave the dentist’s office. Do not chew on the pack. As you replace the gauze pack from time to time, moisten it before placing in your mouth. There may be some bleeding or oozing after the pack is removed. If so, follow this procedure:

1) Fold a piece of clean gauze into a pad, thick enough to bite on. Dampen the pad and place it directly on the extraction site.

2) Apply moderate pressure by closing the teeth firmly over the pad. Maintain this pressure for about 30 minutes. If the pad becomes blood soaked, replace it with a clean one as necessary.

3) Do not suck on the extraction site.

A slight amount of blood may leak at the extraction site until a clot forms. However, if heavy bleeding continues, call your dentist. (Remember, though, that a lot of saliva and a little blood can look like a lot of bleeding)