Think you know all there is to know about dental crowns? Think again!
Dental crowns are an essential tool in restorative dentistry. With proper placement, they provide protection, durability, and aesthetic improvement for damaged teeth or replacements for lost teeth atop dental implants. Unfortunately, certain myths surround dental crowns, causing unnecessary concern among patients. Understanding the facts can help you make more informed decisions about your oral health.
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are custom-made caps, typically made from metals or high-quality dental porcelain. They are a popular restorative treatment used to protect damaged teeth or, when mounted on dental implants, replace missing teeth. Dental crowns offer both cosmetic and functional benefits. They restore the visual appeal of a patient’s smile, allowing them to speak, smile, and laugh in comfort and, most importantly, confidence.
Crowns offer far more than cosmetic benefits, however. Their long-lasting durability, ease of care, and custom fit make them a robust and reliable means of restoring optimal biting and chewing functionality and averting other dental issues, like shifting or overcrowding of adjacent teeth.
With proper care and regular dental visits, a crown can serve you well for many years. Unfortunately, however, certain common misconceptions about dental crowns create unnecessary fear, confusion, or hesitation among patients.
To help you feel more confident about your dental health, let’s tackle some prevalent myths and uncover the truth about dental crowns!
Myth #1: Dental Crowns Are Only for Cosmetic Purposes
Although crowns improve the look of your smile, their real value lies in the structural support they provide to your teeth. Crowns restore the strength, shape, and function of teeth severely damaged by large cavities and cracks or after a root canal, acting as protective shields against further damage or infection. They also help restore proper chewing function, allowing patients to eat and speak comfortably.
Myth #2: Getting a Dental Crown Is Painful and Invasive
Among the most common fears about dental crowns is that the procedure is painful or invasive. In reality, getting a crown is a simple and painless process. Thanks to advances in dental technology and anesthesia, patients experience little to no discomfort during the procedure. While some individuals may experience mild sensitivity after crown placement, the procedure itself is non-invasive, and any discomfort typically subsides within a few days.
Myth #3: Dental Crowns Are Not Durable and Have a Short Lifespan
Another common misconception about dental crowns is that they are fragile and need frequent replacement. In truth, dental crowns, typically made from materials like porcelain, ceramic, metal alloys, or some combination of these, are designed to be durable, long-lasting, and highly resistant to wear and tear.
When properly cared for, dental crowns can last 10 to 15 years or, in some cases, even longer. The key to their longevity lies in maintaining good oral hygiene, avoiding excessive biting on hard objects, and attending regular dental checkups.
Myth #4: Dental Crowns Require Special Care and Maintenance
Many people believe that dental crowns require extra care or maintenance. This is simply not true. Once a dental crown is in place, it functions just like a natural tooth and does not require any special tools or techniques to care for it.
Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash, and visiting your dentist regularly are all that’s required to keep dental crowns and the teeth surrounding them in excellent condition. To increase the chances of optimal results, it's also important to avoid habits like excessive grinding or clenching of teeth (bruxism), chewing or biting down on hard items like ice, pen caps, or olive pits, and using teeth as tools.
Myth #5: Dental Crowns Are a One-Size-Fits-All Solution
Some people think dental crowns are generic and lack customization. This, too, couldn't be further from the truth. Every dental crown is custom-made to fit the unique tooth structure and bite of the patient for whom it’s intended.
To achieve this, your dentist takes impressions of your teeth to ensure a perfect fit over any damaged teeth and excellent fit and alignment within your bite. Additionally, crowns can be color-matched to blend seamlessly with surrounding teeth, ensuring a completely natural look.
Precisely Placed Dental Crowns in Winston-Salem, NC
If you're looking for a dentist in Winston-Salem to expertly guide you through the restorative dentistry process, from helping you choose the right dental crown for you to precise placement to aftercare, contact Dr. Jeffrey Tibbs and the friendly and skilled Tibbs Dental team to schedule a consultation!