Unfortunately, if there isn't enough tooth remaining or if a significant amount of a tooth's structure has been removed, your dentist can't place a crown. Instead, they may suggest other options to restore your smile.
Disadvantages of Dental Crowns
While the materials used to make crowns are strong and durable, they can still crack over time. Small cracks can sometimes be repaired, but if there are multiple chips or breaks, your restoration may need to be replaced.
Inlays. Inlays are a tooth restoration option that can often be used instead of a dental crown if the area that needs treatment is located at on the top of the tooth, also known as the cusp. An experienced dentist will treat the tooth and then make an impression so the inlay can permanently bond into place.
By far, the most popular choice as an alternative to crowns is a porcelain onlay. A porcelain onlay is an extremely safe approach that preserves more of your natural tooth structure. This leads to an overall healthier tooth and mouth.
In most cases, only a minimum of about 1/4 of the natural tooth structure needs to be present to place a dental crown. Obviously, the more natural, healthy tissue, the better, but dental crowns are designed to restore significantly damaged teeth.
You might opt for a filling instead. Keep in mind, however, that a filling does not prevent you from needing a crown later on. Also, if a substantial portion of your tooth needs filling, a better solution is usually the crown because fillings do not give you the same kind of protection as crowns do.
If you are getting a crown for cosmetic reasons (for a stained tooth or badly shaped tooth that makes you feel self-conscious or embarrassed), choosing to not get a crown just means that your tooth will have the same appearance. If you are nervous about getting a dental crown placed, talk with your dentist.
Whether your tooth was broken by an oral injury or damaged due to wear & tear (such as teeth grinding) a crown is a good option. While minor chips can sometimes be repaired with cosmetic treatments like veneers or dental bonding, major tooth damage almost always requires a dental crown.
But if a patient delays in getting a crown in a reasonable amount of time, eventually the decay will reach the inner layer of a tooth where the pulp and nerve reside. Then a root canal is necessary to remove the infected nerve.
After a root canal, they can simply be restored with dental filling and left without a crown. However, if the front tooth has been discolored by decay, then a crown should be fitted for cosmetic purposes.
If you have a dental problem, you may be wondering which dental procedure is right for you. For a severely decayed tooth, you can consider getting a root canal. For minor damages such as tooth chipping or discoloration, your dentist may suggest getting a dental crown.
A tooth can survive for several weeks without a crown. However, this is not advisable as your teeth remain exposed. This could make your teeth sensitive to hot or cold temperatures and cause further damage. If you would not like to use a crown on your tooth, you could use dental veneers as an alternative for crowns.
How Are They Different From Each Other? A dental crown and a dental cap are the same things. A dental cap is just another term commonly used by older people to refer to dental crowns. A dental crown is a modern term used to refer to tooth-colored caps that protect damaged, brown, chipped, or discolored teeth.
An indirect resin crown is a crown made out of resin (instead of porcelain). The indirect resin crown is made in the office by the doctor, and finished on the same day. Although this method is performed only by a few doctors, it can save you time and money in the short term.
However, saving your tooth is not always possible. If your tooth is cracked or broken due to trauma, especially below the gum line, there may not be any way to preserve the tooth. With infection and decay, the decision can be tricky.
Fortunately, these days, modern dental crowns don't always have to cover the entire tooth. With a partial crown instead of a full one, you can restore a damaged tooth's compromised structure without having to modify most of its structure.
You might have temporary discomfort after a procedure to place your crown. This pain shouldn't last longer than 2 weeks or so. Talk to a dentist if you're experiencing a lot of pain following a crown procedure, or if you have pain that doesn't go away after 2 weeks.
Is it normal for my tooth to look black under my crown? It's not supposed to darken. Most of the time, tooth discoloration is caused by bacteria getting in the dental crown. It can also be the result of an inadequate seal on the crown.
If tapping lightly on the tooth causes acute pain, this is usually a sign of local infection. Infections can often be treated with the simple use of antibiotics, but, in severe cases, an abscess may develop in the gums, teeth or bone of the jaw that may require surgical drainage.
When your teeth become cracked, the crown becomes unstable due to the broken foundation. This is one reason why your crown may hurt. If you have recently undergone a crown replacement and it hurts for up to a week after treatment, your crown may have been placed incorrectly or has not bonded properly to your tooth.
If your dentist recommends a dental crown, you should get it placed as soon as the inflammation and discomfort from the infected root canal subsides. This is typically about a week after the root canal treatment. Most dentists recommend you get your dental crown placed within 30 days of your root canal treatment.
Teeth that receive either a filling or a crown after a root canal last about 11 years. Teeth that receive no restorative work after a root canal last about 6.5 years.