Make Your Teeth Royalty and Get Crowned!

As much as possible, we want to prevent the need for a crown.  Here are some indicators and what you can do to prevent this in the future.

1. Maintain Excellent Oral Hygiene

• Brush Twice Daily: Use fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush your teeth at least twice a day. Pay special attention to cleaning all surfaces of your teeth, including the back molars.
• Floss Daily: Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between your teeth, where your toothbrush can’t reach. This helps prevent cavities between teeth, which are a common reason for crowns.
• Use Mouthwash: An antibacterial mouthwash can help reduce plaque, prevent gum disease, and protect teeth from decay.
• Regular Dental Cleanings: Visit your dentist for professional cleanings and check-ups every six months to remove tartar, catch early signs of decay, and monitor the health of your teeth.

2. Avoid Tooth Decay

• Limit Sugary and Acidic Foods: Sugary foods and drinks, like candy, soda, and juices, feed harmful bacteria in your mouth that produce acids, leading to tooth decay. Acidic foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, and vinegar can erode tooth enamel. Limiting these foods can help prevent cavities that may eventually require crowns.
• Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps wash away food particles and neutralize acids in your mouth. It also promotes saliva production, which is vital for maintaining healthy teeth and preventing decay.
• Chew Sugar-Free Gum: Chewing sugar-free gum after meals helps stimulate saliva flow, which can neutralize acids and protect tooth enamel.

3. Protect Your Teeth from Damage

• Avoid Hard or Crunchy Foods: Biting down on hard foods like ice, popcorn kernels, or hard candy can crack or chip your teeth, which may lead to the need for a crown.
• Don’t Use Teeth as Tools: Using your teeth to open packages, bite nails, or hold objects puts undue stress on them, increasing the risk of fractures or chips.
• Wear a Mouthguard: If you play contact sports or grind your teeth (bruxism), wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard can protect your teeth from trauma or excessive wear. Teeth grinding, in particular, can lead to cracks, breaks, or worn-down enamel that eventually requires a crown. If you would like to learn more about mouthguards click here. If there’s a chance that you clench or grind in your sleep, wearing a night guard is recommended. click here to learn more.

4. Address Dental Issues Early

• Get Cavities Treated Promptly: If you notice any signs of tooth decay, such as sensitivity or dark spots on your teeth, visit your dentist immediately. Early intervention can often stop decay from progressing to the point where a crown is needed. A small filling or sealant might be enough to repair the tooth.
• Repair Small Chips or Cracks Early: If you notice any chips or cracks, even if they don’t cause pain, have them repaired right away. Bonding or a minor filling may be enough to restore the tooth before the damage worsens.
• Treat Gum Disease: Gum disease can cause gums to recede, exposing the roots of teeth and making them more vulnerable to decay and damage. Regular dental visits and good home care are essential to maintaining gum health.

5. Strengthen Your Teeth

• Use Fluoride Products: Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent cavities. Make sure you use fluoride toothpaste and consider using a fluoride mouthwash. Your dentist may also recommend fluoride treatments to give your teeth extra protection.
• Eat a Balanced Diet: Eating a diet rich in calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins can help keep your teeth strong. Foods like dairy products, leafy greens, almonds, and fish are excellent for maintaining healthy teeth and bones.
• Ask About Sealants: Dental sealants are thin protective coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of your molars to prevent cavities. This is especially beneficial for children, but adults at high risk for cavities can benefit from sealants as well.

6. Manage Medical Conditions

• Address Dry Mouth: A dry mouth can increase the risk of cavities and gum disease, both of which can lead to the need for a crown. If you experience dry mouth due to medications, medical conditions, or other factors, talk to your dentist about ways to increase saliva production or use artificial saliva products.
• Control Acid Reflux: Acid reflux (GERD) can erode tooth enamel over time, making teeth more prone to decay and damage. Managing this condition with lifestyle changes or medications can help protect your teeth.
• Diabetes Management: People with diabetes are at higher risk for gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss or damage. Keeping your blood sugar under control can help maintain your oral health and prevent the need for crowns or other restorative work.

7. Regular Dental Checkups

• Routine Examinations: Regular visits to the dentist allow for early detection of dental problems like cavities, cracks, or excessive wear. Catching these issues early can prevent the need for extensive dental work, such as crowns.
• Professional Cleanings: Dental cleanings remove plaque and tartar buildup that can lead to cavities, decay, and gum disease. Consistent cleanings help keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Once your dental professional has evaluated your teeth and determined that a crown is required.  You can expect the procedure to be as follows:

1. Tooth Preparation

• Numbing: An anesthetic will be applied to ensure you’re comfortable during the procedure.
• Shaping the Tooth: The dentist will remove decay and shape the tooth to fit the crown.
• Impression: An impression of your tooth is taken, either with traditional putty or a digital scanner, to create a custom crown.

2. Temporary Crown

• Placement: A temporary crown may be placed to protect the tooth while the permanent crown is being made. It is important to avoid sticky foods and flossing upward during this time. You can floss by pulling down and out. Lifting the floss may cause you to dislodge the temporary crown.

3. Crown Fabrication

• Lab Work: The impression is sent to a dental lab, where the permanent crown is created. This can take a few days to weeks, depending on the lab.

4. Fitting the Permanent Crown

• Return Visit: Once the permanent crown is ready, you’ll return to the dentist.
• Adjustment: The crown is tried on, and adjustments are made for fit, bite, and appearance.
• Cementing: Once satisfied, the crown is permanently cemented onto the tooth.

Tips for Care

• Oral Hygiene: Maintain good oral hygiene to prolong the life of your crown.
• Avoid Hard Foods: Be cautious with hard or sticky foods that might damage the crown.

As your Scarborough family dental clinic, we hope that we have given you information that can help you prevent the need for a crown in the future but if you do, we hope that the information in our blog has put you more at ease about getting crowned. If you would like more information on crowns, click here If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (416) 291-3117 and we will be more than happy to assist you.