Full-coverage dental crowns are one of the most popular choices for treating a variety of dental issues. This type of dental crown is a rigid, durable tooth-shaped covering that serves as a sort of replacement enamel when the natural enamel is depleted or destroyed, protecting the sensitive dental pulp, tooth root, and dentin while restoring the tooth’s structure and function. Because dental crowns are designed to perform like natural, healthy teeth, supporting the pressures of biting and chewing, they are designed to be durable and comfortable. They can also be designed to match the surrounding teeth in shape, size, and hue, which is particularly helpful when the treated tooth is in the front of the mouth.

Some of the indications for full-coverage dental crowns are:

1. Protection following a root canal treatment
2. Restoration of a heavily decayed tooth
3. To secure and support a significant dental filling
4. Improving the aesthetics of a visibly damaged or severely discolored tooth
5. Protecting a cracked or fractured tooth
6. Replacing an existing crown
7. Enhancing dental alignment

The average lifespan of a dental crown can range from ten to 30 years, depending on multiple factors. Crowns might need to be replaced prematurely for a few different reasons. If periodontal disease develops around a dental crown, it’s imperative that the crown be removed for periodontal treatment to limit infection and ultimately protect the life of the underlying tooth, as well as the surrounding soft tissues and bone. Tooth decay in adjacent teeth could also necessitate removal of a full-coverage crown, as decay can infect beneath the crown and must be treated before the crown can be replaced. Of course, just as the natural teeth are subject to cracking or breaking, so are crowns; if your crown cracks or breaks, it will need to be replaced, as it will no longer serve its function of protecting the underlying tooth from potentially painful, often damaging circumstances.

As with any dental restoration and with the teeth and oral tissues in general, proper oral hygiene helps maintain health and stability; this is also true for dental crowns. This means regular, gentle brushing and flossing, paired with routine dental checkups and cleanings. Some people get full-coverage crowns to protect teeth that are broken or cracked, though some cracks in teeth don’t need treatment, though only a dentist can make this diagnosis and monitor smaller cracks to ensure they don’t get worse. Your dentist will also make sure your crown continues to fit well and function properly, evaluating it along with your natural teeth at each dental visit. Crowns can be used to fix strictly aesthetic issues related to the length, width, shape, color, or general appearance of a tooth. They can also do some mechanical heavy lifting, holding together and supporting an excessively decayed tooth or protecting a vulnerable tooth root from infection and irritation following a root canal treatment. Different materials are recommended for different purposes, and your dentist will review which materials you might choose from as you plan your dental treatment, making sure you’re getting the best possible solution, whatever your indications are for full-coverage crowns. The sooner you call, the sooner you can be on your way to a more secure, seamless smile.

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