Dental Crowns – Houston, TX

What is a crown?

A crown is a dental restoration that wraps around or “caps” a tooth that needs repair.

Why do I need a crown?

When a tooth is badly decayed, chipped, poorly shaped, or positioned, a dental crown may be the best option to predictably restore the tooth’s strength, function, and beauty.

Can my tooth be repaired with a filling instead of a crown?

Generally, a filling is the first choice to repair a sensitive, chipped, or decayed tooth. However, a large filling may further weaken a tooth, causing the tooth to crack. Unfortunately, tooth removal (extraction) is often the only option after a tooth has cracked at or beneath the gum level. Through training and experience, Dentists evaluate the condition of a tooth and recommend treatment, possibly a crown, so that the dental repair will maintain the tooth’s integrity throughout the patient’s lifetime. By design, crowns strengthen teeth. Crowns, by preventing root fracture, save teeth that would otherwise require eventual root canal treatment or extraction.

I had root canal treatment. Why do I now need a crown?

Root canal therapy eliminates nervous tissue, blood, and lymphatic flow through a tooth. Blood flow nourishes and keeps tooth structure strong and resilient. A tooth without blood flow, like a tree without water, will become weak. Crown placement will strengthen the “root-canaled” tooth and prevent it from breaking.

Why did my crowned tooth turn grey (black) at the gum line?

Crowns often are made in layers, an outside layer (white porcelain) and an inner layer (grey metalcore). The crown is often fragile at the gum level, and the grey cast shows through the thin layer of porcelain. This grey color is initially hidden under the gum tissue in a crevice called the periodontal pocket that exists around all teeth. If the gum tissue recedes down the tooth root, the thin grey edge of the crown is revealed. This exposure may reveal an unsightly blue or grey color at the gum level.

Can the black line around my crown be repaired?

Yes, the black line at the edge of your crown can be eliminated. Typically, the crown is replaced, and the discoloration vanishes. If the gum line darkness results from a discolored tooth root rather than a discolored crown, other treatments will be needed.

Can I prevent a black line from forming around the crown on my front tooth?

Yes, a crown can be made with a white (tooth-colored) inner layer. If the gum recedes, the exposed edge will be less visible because of the inner layer’s natural coloration. Dentists can now provide metal-free crowns. The solid tooth-colored material, called zirconia or lithium disilicate, is more esthetic, requires less tooth structure removal, and is healthier for the gum tissue.

Why was a gold crown recommended?

Gold (metal) crowns can be made very thin without any risk of breakage. Porcelain (tooth-colored) crowns conversely require a minimum thickness to develop strength and resistance to fracture. The issue of crown thickness is significant. The crown thickness is the minimum dimension that must be removed from the natural tooth for it to return to its original size following crown placement. Some types of all-ceramic and porcelain fused to metal crowns require three times tooth reduction versus a full gold crown. If the tooth to be crowned has limited height (the distance from the gum line to the top of the tooth), placement of a metal crown leaves behind more tooth structure. Increasing the remaining tooth structure makes the tooth less likely to require root canal therapy and lessens the chance of a crown becoming loose. Additionally, metal crowns may be suggested because they are non-abrasive and will not wear away from the natural teeth they may touch during chewing.

I have a new crown that is very sensitive. Is something wrong?

Sensitivity following crown placement is not uncommon. Sensitivity occurs because deep cavities, unrecognized fractures, and irritation from dental materials and treatments cause the soft tissue that lives within a tooth’s center to become swollen. In severe, lingering, thermal, pressure, or spontaneous pain, therapy of the root canal system may be required. Typically, the sensitivity will naturally diminish in 1-4 days following crown placement. Occasionally, sensitivity gradually resolves over many months. If sensitivity worsens or does not improve, return to the dentist for follow-up evaluation and care. Often, an adjustment of the bite will reduce the sensitivity.

I was told that my tooth required a gold crown because my tooth is short. Does a tooth-colored option exist?

Yes, a very thin crown that is colored like a natural tooth is now available. The crown is made of a material called zirconia. BruxZir is a popular brand name for this type of zirconia crown. BruxZir crowns can be very thin, yet strong and resistant to breaking. In most cases, a zirconia crown can substitute for a gold crown. Zirconia crowns require your dentist to reduce slightly more natural tooth structure, and they are more susceptible to becoming loose and needing to be re-cemented. However, zirconia crowns are white (tooth-colored), strong, and like gold crowns, do not promote gum inflammation and bleeding that commonly occurs around crowns made with non-precious metal alternatives.