3 Non-Cosmetic Benefits Of Porcelain Dental Crowns

29 September 2015
 Categories: Dentist, Articles


Just about everyone knows the cosmetic benefits of porcelain dental crowns. They're natural-looking, and they give your smile a beautiful makeover. However, porcelain dental crowns have many non-cosmetic benefits that actually improve the overall health of your smile. If you have weak or severely damaged teeth, check out these three benefits of porcelain dental crowns, and learn how they can transform your smile into a healthy one.

They Strengthen Teeth

If you haven't taken the best care of your teeth, you probably have weak teeth. Teeth with large fillings, cavities, cracks or teeth that have root canal therapy are all weakened. These teeth are more likely to break or completely shatter just when exposed to the everyday pressures of chewing. The only real way to strengthen severely weakened teeth is to get dental crowns.

Think of your tooth like an egg. If you take an egg and lightly squeeze on the solid shell, it won't break. However, if that egg has a bunch of cracks in it, it's going to smash under the light pressure. Similarly, when your teeth have a lot of cracks from fillings or actual cracks, it's easier to break the tooth. A porcelain dental crown, however, is like putting a new, solid shell over that tooth. When your teeth face pressure, that pressure is evenly distributed over the new solid surface, which is how dental crowns strengthen teeth.  

They Help Prevent Some Decay

Another problem you may face if you haven't taken good care of your teeth is loss of tooth enamel. Tooth enamel is considered the hardest tissue in the human body, but it isn't invincible. Exposure to acidic foods/beverages, sugary foods/beverages, acid reflux disease, and genetics can actually cause the enamel to erode. As it becomes thinner, it's much easier for plaque and bacteria to reach the underlying surface of the tooth and cause decay.

Unfortunately, once your tooth enamel has eroded, there's no getting it back. However, dental crowns create a new barrier that protects the underlying tooth structure from plaque, tartar and bacteria. Porcelain dental crowns cover nearly every bit of tooth to protect against decay. However, your teeth are still susceptible to decay at the gum line, so you need to practice good oral hygiene habits to keep the area clean. Failure to do so can lead to gum recession, which exposes unprotected tooth root.

They Return Functionality

If you have weakened teeth, you may have already suffered from a broken tooth. Depending on the severity of the break, it may simply be a small chip, a larger chip or a total break at the gum line. Having broken or missing teeth can make it difficult to eat and talk and puts more wear and tear on the remaining teeth.

Depending on the severity of the break and the location (back teeth or incisors), your dentist may be able to rebuild the tooth and cover it with a crown to strengthen it. This gives you back your functionality. If the break is severe and on a back tooth, it may be best to replace the tooth instead of rebuilding it. A rebuild may work for a short time, but the pressures of chewing will quickly cause it to break again.

If you have unhealthy teeth, porcelain dental crowns can help. Not only will they give you an amazing smile, but they will also help strengthen and protect your teeth so they last longer and remain healthy. If you would like more information about porcelain dental crowns, or if you would like to schedule a consultation, contact a cosmetic dentist in your area today.


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