Dental crowns have been around a long time, but they continue to play an important role in Grand Rapids cosmetic dentistry. A dental crown, often called a cap, covers the visible part of the tooth.
Dental crowns are used for several problems common among Grand Rapids cosmetic dentistry patients:
- An old crown that is damaged or ill-fitting
- A broken tooth
- A tooth with extreme decay
- A tooth that has had a root canal
- A tooth that is too small or misshapen
- A tooth that prevents a proper bite
A dental crown serves both structural and aesthetic purposes. It protects a natural tooth from additional decay and damage while permitting normal function. In addition, a dental crown often prevents the need for an extraction and the bone loss that can occur with a missing tooth.
Patients who get a dental crown should not assume that the tooth is now invincible. Crowns need daily cleaning and flossing just like natural teeth. The remaining tooth structure just around the gumline could still become decayed and the soft tissue around the crown is susceptible to gum disease. Chewing hard foods or using your teeth as a tool can cause a crown to crack or break. (Use scissors to open a stubborn plastic package – don’t bite and pull!) Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull can advise you on caring for your new crown so that it will last as long as possible. Some of our Belmont, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI patients have crowns that are still looking beautiful after ten years.
If you would like to hear more about options to restore your smile, call our office to schedule a complimentary consultation today.
Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry
616-784-2377
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