A dental crown is a cap that protects tooth enamel. It is an important tool your dentist can use to restore a tooth or hide cosmetic damage.

Many people have dental crowns. Dental crowns may be a good option if you have damaged teeth or would like to hide a cosmetic defect in your tooth enamel. Your dentist in Lyndhurst, OH, will help you decide. Below are five things to know about dental crowns.

1. Dental crowns can look just like natural teeth.

Dental crowns are shaped just like natural teeth. When you’re fitted for a dental crown, your dentist will make an impression of your teeth to send to a lab.

The lab will then use the impression to make a crown that fits the available space. The crown will have a natural shape and, depending on the material it’s made from, can also be colored just like your other teeth.

2. Dental crowns made from metal last the longest.

Dental crowns can be made from porcelain, metal, or resin. Dental crowns that are made from metal last the longest. Metal crowns don’t look as natural as resin or porcelain crowns, so you’ll have to decide what’s important to you when you’re choosing a material for your crown.

3. Dental crowns are easy to maintain.

Dental crowns need to be brushed twice daily and flossed once daily, just like regular teeth. When brushing your crown, use a soft-bristle toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. This will prevent your crown from becoming scratched and prolong its service life.

4. Dental crowns can’t be whitened.

Dental whitening doesn’t work on tooth-colored crowns. If you whiten your teeth, your natural teeth will become whiter, and your dental crown will not, which could lead to a color mismatch in your mouth.

5. You’ll get a dental crown if you get a root canal.

Root canals weaken teeth. If you get a root canal, you’ll need a dental crown to protect the remaining tooth enamel. This will help you keep the tooth and avoid an extraction.

Think you need a dental crown in Lyndhurst, OH? Call today to make an appointment.