If you are undergoing dental procedures to restore your teeth, a dental crown may be used during the application. Here are a few treatments that employ dental crowns:

Dental Implants

Implants are installed into the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. However, until the implant is covered by a dental crown, the tooth cannot be used to chew or bite. 

After an implant is installed, it must fuse with the jawbone over a period of several months. After the fusing is completed, an abutment or connector can be attached to the implant. After the abutment wound heals, a dental crown can be connected to cover the implant. 

The crown restores the chewing ability and the physical appearance of the patient's teeth.

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is another tooth replacement option. A conventional dental bridge includes a false tooth, but the tooth is bordered by a dental crown on each side. 

The false tooth replaces the missing tooth, but the dental crowns hold the appliance in place. The crowns are bonded to the the teeth that border the gap from the missing tooth. Once the crowns are cemented to the underlying teeth, the bridge is fixed in place.

 A Large Cavity

A large cavity may require a crown even after the tooth has been filled. The removal of the dental decay before the filling of the tooth may compromise the integrity of the tooth. The dental crown reinforces and protects the tooth.

A Root Canal

A crown is used to cover a tooth that has been restored by a root canal. The root canal is often used to restore a tooth that incurs an infection. After the removal of the pulp, or interior living material of a tooth, the tooth is basically hollow, and a filling does not support enough structural support. Thus, a crown is required to cover the tooth.

A Chipped or Cracked Tooth

A chip or crack can become worse if it is not protected as the tooth experiences bite pressure. The crown can prevent the entry of bacteria into vulnerable areas of the tooth. It can also be fortify the tooth to prevent deepening cracks that could extend through the root of a tooth. If a tooth does become divided through its root, it must be extracted.

To learn more ways that a crown can benefit your oral health, consult with a dentist in your area. For dental crowns, contact a clinic such as Pittsburgh Dental Spa.