6 Situations When Crowns are the Best Treatment Option

Over the course of your life, there’s a lot that can happen to your teeth—and as you age, they become even more susceptible to problems. Weakened teeth might fracture easily when you bite into a piece of food, for example, or if you experience some sort of trauma to your mouth. Cavities can cause problems as well, leading to decay, root canals, tooth loss and even implants.

The list of issues you could run into is long, making it critical to protect your teeth as much as possible with daily homecare and routine dental checkups. But when something does go wrong, Dr. Moosa and his team at Parkway Family Dental in Columbus, Ohio, can help you determine the best treatment option. And that option is often a crown, a tooth-shaped cap that fits over your entire tooth.

Crowns are an affordable, long-lasting dental restoration that can protect a tooth from further damage or keep an implant stable, giving you your smile and confidence back as well as the ability to chew normally. If cared for properly, crowns placed at Dr. Moosa’s Polaris based practice can last as long as 15 years, making them well worth the small investment.

When might a crown be the best treatment? Here’s a look at six situations that call for a crown, and how Dr. Moosa and his team can make the entire process seamless.

1. You have a cracked or broken tooth.

A crack could cause problems at any time. You might be eating your favorite meal when suddenly you feel a sharp pain. Or maybe it’s built up over time, and you’ve noticed increased sensitivity to hot or cold food. A trauma to the tooth could cause a break, leaving your tooth exposed to bacteria settling in and causing bigger problems.

If you experience any of these issues or think you might have a fractured or cracked tooth, call Dr. Moosa’s Polaris office right away. The Columbus-based team will get you in as quickly as possible to assess the situation and determine if a crown is the best treatment option. If it is, once placed, the crown will protect the tooth from bacteria, allowing you to keep it longer, while also restoring your smile and your confidence.

2. You have too much tooth structure loss to fill a cavity.

When possible, Dr. Moosa will fix a cavity with filling material as it’s the most minimally invasive treatment. But if you’ve lost too much tooth structure, a filling isn’t an option. Why? It could cause the tooth to fracture further, leading to bigger, more complicated problems. The best treatment in this situation is likely a crown. With a crown, Dr. Moosa can restore your tooth to proper function and also give you a beautiful smile.

3. You’re scheduled for a root canal.

Crowns are commonly placed after root canals at Dr. Moosa’s Polaris office to preserve what’s left of the tooth structure, which may be weaker after the procedure. These restorations help keep bacteria away from the tooth, prevent sensitivity to hot and cold, and protect what’s likely a fragile tooth from further damage. Crowns also can hide imperfections, giving you a whiter, brighter smile. Dr. Moosa and his team will go over your options and determine if it’s best to place a crown after your root canal.

4. You have a worn down tooth or have developed decay.

Worn and decayed teeth can easily break. Crowns help prevent that from happening, protecting them from further problems.  

5. You have a discolored or misshapen tooth.

In some cases, crowns are used to enhance esthetics. If you’re not happy with the color or shape of your teeth, Dr. Moosa may suggest a crown. Crowns not only give you your confidence back, they also help protect the tooth from wear and fracture in the future.

6. You need a dental bridge or to cover a dental implant.

Even when your tooth needs extracted, a crown may still be part of treatment at Dr. Moosa’s Columbus, Ohio, office. Crowns are used as part of a dental bridge and to cover dental implants. Dr. Moosa and his team will discuss how these treatments work so you know exactly what to expect.

Beautiful and long lasting  

No matter the reason you need a crown, Dr. Moosa and his Polaris team will guide you through the process, making it as seamless as possible. They’ll also provide you with detailed post-op and homecare guidance that will keep your crowns looking beautiful and functioning as they should. If cared for properly, crowns can last for years, protecting your teeth and allowing you to keep them longer.

Proper care includes routine dental cleanings and checkups. To schedule a new patient appointment or get back on the schedule for a checkup, contact Parkway Family Dental today.