Many people have things about their smile that they wish they could change. Maybe it’s a chipped tooth from an old accident. Or years worth of stains from consuming their favorite foods and beverages. Whatever it is, chances are cosmetic dental treatments can help change these minor imperfections.
While there are various cosmetic dental treatments available to correct a range of cosmetic concerns, this does not necessarily mean that multiple cosmetic treatments are needed. Luckily, there are some cosmetic dental treatments that are able to correct multiple cosmetic concerns with a single treatment. One of these versatile treatments are dental crowns.
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that fit over a natural tooth that has become decayed, damaged, or discolored. To place a dental crown, the decayed tissue will need to be removed. The tooth will then be reduced in size so that it can structurally support a dental crown without looking bulky.
In some cases, dental crowns are also used in coordination with dental implants to replace missing teeth. For these instances, a dental implant must be placed in the jawbone and left to heal for about 3-6 months. Then the permanent crown can be adhered to a special attachment piece that sticks out of the gums. Both types of dental crowns can fix cosmetic concerns including:
Shape
Teeth that have become damaged or decayed often have their overall shape compromised. Depending on the extent of the decay or damage, the tooth may need to be reduced in certain places, causing its shape to lack a natural appearance. Placing a dental crown over the affected tooth restores the tooth in terms of its appearance, while also protecting the tooth from further damage in its compromised state.
Size
Dental crowns can also adjust the size of teeth. In some cases, individuals may have teeth that are mismatched in size, which can make their entire smile seem uneven. Teeth that have been reduced due to damage or decay can also appear smaller than their neighbors. Dental crowns can be placed on a single tooth to match the others, or multiple dental crowns can be used on multiple teeth to create a more even smile.
Color
Discolored teeth can also be restored with dental crowns. When being fabricated, the shade of dental crowns can be customized to be a brighter color than the teeth being restored. Once the crown is placed over the discolored teeth, it makes it appear as if they have been whitened. Dental crowns are especially ideal in cases where professional teeth whitening procedures are not effective against certain types of stains.
By providing a more natural shape, size, and enhanced color of a single or multiple teeth, dental crowns are a highly versatile cosmetic dental treatment. In most cases, they also allow for you to keep your natural teeth, which is also preferential. In the rare case that a tooth needs to be extracted or has fallen out, dental crowns can then be used in coordination with dental implants. Ultimately, if you are looking to fix multiple things about your smile all at once, then you may want to talk to your local cosmetic dentist about dental crowns.
Dr. Sachdeva Pushpa is a Nairobi dentist who is constantly upgrading her skills by attending hands-on courses internationally. This allows her to provide her patients with the latest dental techniques and technology. In addition to restorative dental treatments, she works to improve the surrounding soft tissues through lip augmentation, reduction of peri-oral lines, narrowing of square jaws, Fillers and Facial Thread lifting. She also uses Botox to reduce the occurrence of Bruxism and to reduce “gummy smiles”.
