Do you avoid chewing on one side of your mouth due to a damaged tooth? A dental crown can restore your tooth's normal function and improve your appearance. Ringwood, NJ, dentists Dr. David Kahn and Dr. John Pergolizzi share some information about this versatile restoration method.

What are crowns?

Dental crowns, also called caps, cover the portions of your teeth that extend above your gum line. The restorations look just like your natural teeth, but if you were to turn them over, you'll notice that they're hollow inside. Before you receive a crown, your tooth will be prepared. Reducing the size of the tooth ensures that there will be plenty of room for the restoration to slip over your tooth.

Your teeth produce a tremendous amount of pressure when you chew on a piece of steak or gnaw on a raw carrot. Because the forces you generate are so strong, your crown must be equally strong or it will soon break apart. Porcelain, one of the most common crown materials, is a good choice because the material is extremely tough and closely resembles tooth enamel. Porcelain can be used alone or fused to a layer of metal.

When are dental crowns recommended?

We may recommend a dental crown when you visit our Ringwood office if:

• Your tooth is broken: Crowns restore height and width to broken teeth and make it possible to use your teeth to chew once again. In some cases, root canal therapy may be needed before you can receive a crown.
• Your tooth is at high risk of a fracture: Crowns are also used to prevent damage to teeth. Any change to your tooth structure can weaken the tooth and make it more likely to break apart one day when you take a bite of food. Teeth can become weaker if they're cracked or if the structure has been weakened by large fillings or root canal treatment.
• You want to change the shape or length of your tooth: Crowns offer the ideal way to lengthen teeth or change the shape of crooked, twisted or pointed teeth.
• You want to conceal an imperfection: Crowns effectively hide chips, discolorations, uneven tooth surfaces and other flaws.

Restore and protect your damaged teeth with dental crowns. Call Ringwood, NJ, dentists Drs. David Kahn and John Pergolizzi at (973) 835-3900.