What Are Dental Crowns?

Are you worried about a crack in a tooth or unhappy with the appearance of an oddly shaped or discolored tooth? A crown may be the perfect solution to your dental problem. Our Leesburg, VA, dentists, Dr. Ken Rothschild and Dr. Michael Gwaltney, share some information on this versatile restoration option.

Crowns protect and conceal

Crowns are hollow restorations that look just like natural teeth without the roots. Before you receive a crown, your tooth is reduced on all four sides to allow the crown to easily slip over the tooth. Crowns completely encase your teeth and not only protect fragile or damaged teeth but also hide or correct imperfections in teeth. Crowns are made of a variety of durable materials that look like tooth enamel, such as porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal, ceramic, and resin.

How are crowns used?

Crowns are often used to:

• Prevent Cracks from Worsening: Cracks weaken your teeth and increase the risk that they'll break when you bite or chew. Adding a crown to a cracked tooth is a simple way to reduce your fracture risk and prevent bacteria from entering through the crack. When you take a bite of food, biting forces are distributed over the surface of the crown, rather than the tooth underneath.
• Restore Broken Teeth: Broken teeth may occur if a crack worsens or you experience a blow to a tooth. Broken teeth can be painful and unsightly and may make it impossible to chew thoroughly. Crowns restore broken teeth, improving both appearance and functionality.
• Protect Teeth After Root Canals and Large Fillings: Your tooth weakens if you've had a large filling or a root canal. Because weak teeth are at increased risk of cracking or fracturing, a crown is often needed after these dental procedures. We may also recommend crowns when you visit our Leesburg office if your teeth have weakened due to aging or other issues.
• Improved Appearance: It's hard to feel good about your smile if you don't like the way your teeth look. Crowns conceal twisted, pointed or crooked teeth and can also be used to add length to short teeth. If your tooth has been discolored due to tetracycline use or a dental procedure, can improve its color.

Could you benefit from a crown? Call our Leesburg, VA, dentists, Dr. Rothschild and Dr. Gwaltney, at (703) 777-3150 to schedule your appointment.