When is a Dental Crown Needed?

Jade

May 11, 2021

When your dentist near you recommends that you get dental crowns, you may be wondering if the treatment is really necessary. Dental crowns are expensive, and dental insurance plans often don’t cover most of the cost. So when we discuss treatments that require large amounts of out-of-pocket expenses, reluctance rises, and more questions come up. As a patient, you should understand the value and necessity of the treatments proposed by your dentist in North York before accepting them. Below, our team at Underhill Dental will provide details about dental crowns near you, when they are needed, and why some patients tend to avoid this treatment.

What Are Dental Crowns?

Most people think of dental crowns as caps for their teeth. It may help to think of a dental crown as a protective shell for your weakened tooth. Dental crowns in North York cover the entirety of weakened or damaged teeth, all the way down to the gum line. A dental crown reinforces the tooth to reduce the chances of further damage or infection. Most dental crowns are made of tooth-colored porcelain.

When Are Dental Crowns Necessary?

Dental crowns reinforce and strengthen weakened teeth. Here are some instances where a tooth would benefit from a dental crown:

A tooth that has undergone root canal therapy: after undergoing root canal therapy, your tooth is weaker and prone to breaking. A dental crown protects a tooth from fracturing.

An extensively restored tooth: this is a tooth that has had many restorations on it, such as a tooth with one or two very large dental fillings. Once your tooth has too many restorations, the risk of fracture increases significantly, and a dental crown lowers that risk.

A cracked tooth: patients who habitually clench and grind their teeth are prone to getting cracks in their tooth enamel. When these cracks cause painful symptoms, a dental crown is provided.

Hesitancy About Dental Crowns

Most of the time, if a patient is told they require a dental filling for a cavity, they will accept treatment. When a dentist can identify an active problem, patients are more likely to accept the proposed treatment.

Patients show more hesitancy when it comes to dental crowns because they do not understand what exactly is wrong with their tooth. Dental crowns are not meant to fix an active problem. Instead, they are a part of preventative dentistry and are put in place to prevent oral health issues from occurring in the future.

Dental crowns are used to strengthen and protect compromised or weakened teeth. Without dental crowns, these teeth are much more likely to fracture or break in the future, requiring extraction. Protecting these teeth with a dental crown significantly reduces your risk of future oral health issues leading to tooth loss.

What If You Don’t Get the Recommended Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns are based on probability but not certainty. Sometimes, patients decline getting dental crowns, and their teeth remain in great shape for years to come, but sometimes patients decline treatment and end up needing tooth extractions.

Dental crowns are all about risk-benefit, and it is important to discuss your risk levels with your dentist before accepting or declining treatment. At Underhill Dental, our team of dedicated dental professionals is happy to provide you with answers to any of your questions or concerns. Our dentist will only make recommendations based on their perception of your risk, and they will always put your oral health and wellbeing first. So please contact us to book a consultation today!