Indications for Full Coverage Crowns
The role of a full coverage dental crown is to restore the structure and strength of a natural tooth. This might mean using a crown to protect or correct a damaged tooth, or it might mean placing a crown on a dental implant post when the natural tooth root is gone; in either case, the crown restores the tooth structure, covering the structure that emerges from the gumline with a solid, stable prosthetic. There are many reasons people might want or need to have their natural teeth protected and restored with full coverage crowns, and, when the natural teeth have endured too much damage to survive, there are many reasons to replace missing teeth with dental implants and crowns.
Indications for dental crowns include:
- Extensive dental cavities or very large fillings
- Protection following root canal treatments
- Painfully cracked teeth, indicating that the nerve is exposed
- Significantly fractured teeth that will continue to break without support
- Cosmetic concerns, like minor alignment issues or severe discoloration
- Missing teeth, replaced with dental implants
Damaged teeth are more susceptible to infection and should be treated promptly, before cracks or cavities are allowed to progress. In many cases, minor damage can be corrected with a simple treatment like a filling, whitening, or bonding. When damage is more significant, the solution might involve completely encasing the tooth in a protective full coverage crown. The inside of each tooth is made of a layer of calcified dentin, which creates the structure of the tooth, and a core of vital pulp, which teems with blood vessels and nerve endings. Normally, this structure is protected with a healthy layer of protective enamel. When enamel wears away and a tooth breaks, the tooth’s core is vulnerable to infection, and most tooth fractures only get worse when they’re not addressed. A crown protects the tooth from infection and helps retain as much of the natural dental tissue as possible while restoring the structure and function of the tooth.
Full coverage dental crowns also help restore the function of a tooth after an extensive dental procedure, like a root canal or a very large filling. While root canal treatments remove infection from the vulnerable center of a tooth’s root, it’s impossible to do this without damaging the structure of the tooth. Crowns protect the compromised, fragile tooth from damage and help insulate the tooth root against bacteria and other irritants. When a natural tooth has sustained too much damage to save, or if the tooth is lost for other reasons, a full coverage dental crown can be used to replace the missing tooth, mounted on a dental implant post that mimics the natural tooth’s root.
Some people choose full coverage dental crowns to correct cosmetic issues, like discolored or misshapen teeth, though less invasive cosmetic treatments are recommended when possible. You see, to accommodate the thickness and curvature of a crown, the dentist must remove a thin layer of the natural dental tissue; this means that a crown will always need to be replaced when it wears out or if it’s damaged, as the tooth won’t be able to survive without that layer of protection. In fact, one of the most common reasons for the placement of a full coverage crown is to replace a worn or damaged existing crown. Make sure you review all your options with your dentist before deciding whether full coverage crowns are the best solution for you.
Related Article: Full Coverage Crowns vs Veneers