How Do You Know If You Need a Dental Crown?

Have you ever bitten into something hard and felt a sharp pain in a tooth? Or maybe you’re looking for solutions for a cracked, worn, or severely discolored tooth. Our team at Strawman Family Dentistry may recommend a dental crown to restore your smile’s health, function, and beautifully natural appearance. Contact our Cincinnati practice to get started today!

What Is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a custom-crafted “cap” that fits over the visible structure of a weak or damaged tooth, strengthening it and improving its shape, size, and appearance. We create our restorations from high-quality dental ceramics or other durable materials designed to blend naturally with your smile.

Why Would You Need a Dental Crown?

The following are some of the reasons why we may recommend a dental crown:

To Restore a Tooth with a Large Filling: Over time, teeth with large fillings can lose their integrity. When a significant amount of your natural enamel is missing, the remaining tooth structure may lack the strength to withstand the pressure of everyday chewing. A custom dental crown can provide the extra support needed to prevent cracks and future fractures.

To Hold Together a Cracked Tooth: A cracked tooth, a condition known as cracked tooth syndrome, can cause immense discomfort that comes and goes, localized pain when biting down, or sudden sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures. A custom crown acts as a protective splint, securely holding the tooth together to keep the fracture from spreading, relieving your discomfort, and halting further damage.

To Strengthen a Tooth After Root Canal Therapy: While root canal therapy is highly effective at saving an infected tooth, the procedure removes infected or inflamed pulp tissue, which can leave the remaining structure brittle and prone to fracture. That’s why we typically recommend a dental crown for protection. With proper care, your root canal-treated tooth can stay healthy and functional for years to come.

To Repair a Worn Tooth: Grinding and clenching your teeth or years of wear can slowly damage the outer layer of your teeth, known as the enamel. Worn-down teeth may become sensitive or appear uneven or shorter than normal. A dental crown can rebuild a worn tooth and restore your bite, enhancing the appearance and function of your smile.

To Replace One or More Teeth: A dental crown placed over a single implant can replace a missing tooth, closely mimicking the appearance and function of your natural teeth. If you are missing one or several teeth in a row, a traditional dental bridge relies on custom crowns placed on teeth on either side of the gap for support. Whether you choose a dental implant or a bridge, our restorations are custom-crafted to beautifully complete your smile.

To Make Cosmetic Modifications: Beyond their protective benefits, we may recommend dental crowns to enhance your smile. If a tooth is severely discolored, misshapen, unevenly spaced, or otherwise flawed, a custom-designed crown can transform your smile. Your new crown will closely match the shade, translucency, and contours of your surrounding teeth, delivering a more balanced, natural appearance.

What Is the Dental Crown Placement Process?

Before creating your custom crown, we will carefully reshape your affected tooth to ensure the restoration fits comfortably and securely. Next, we will take precise impressions of your mouth, which we send to our dental laboratory, where skilled technicians will fabricate your custom restoration, closely matching it to your surrounding teeth. Meanwhile, a temporary crown will protect your prepared tooth.

During your follow-up appointment, we will check your new crown to ensure it provides a proper fit and blends seamlessly with your natural teeth before cementing it in place. We will make any needed adjustments to ensure a comfortable bite and optimal function.

Dental Crowns Near Me in Cincinnati, OH

If you would like to learn more about restoring your smile with a custom dental crown, contact Strawman Family Dentistry to schedule a consultation. Our experienced dentists and patient-centered team will personalize every step of treatment to enhance your smile for many years to come. Call our office at 513-521-2100 to schedule your appointment or follow this link to request one today!

We proudly serve patients in Cincinnati, Fairfield, Finneytown, Glendale, Springdale, Wyoming, and the surrounding communities.