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What is a Crown?

March 4, 2019 Dentistry, Orthodontic Blog dental, dentist, dentistry, dentists, Navy Yard, Washington D.C.

Patients Capitol Dental Associates Washington D.C. 2018 162 1024x683 - What is a Crown?

No, we’re not talking about Netflix’s hot show about Queen Elizabeth. We’re talking about a dental device that a lot of people have which helps them chew and prevents further decay following a root canal or as part of the treatment for a broken tooth. Those are just a couple of the reasons a person might need a crown to cap a tooth, but those are probably the two most common reasons.

A common scenario leading to a crown looks like this. Tooth decay, a cavity, gets deep enough into the enamel of a tooth that it affects the pulp which is where the nerve ending and the blood flow for a healthy tooth is. At that point, the patient sees an endodontist for a root canal, which, it should be noted, is way worse sounding than it really is. Root canals have been villainized over the years, but the procedure isn’t as bad as some people make it out to be. The tooth receiving the root canal has usually been reshaped as a part of the process making it necessary for a cap, or, crown, to be cemented on top of it so that there is almost no noticeable dental work visible to your friends, family, and co-workers. It looks just like your old tooth.

No one wants a root canal, a broken tooth, or any of the other possible reasons for getting a crown, but if you have to get one, we want to help. At Capitol Dental we can help you get back to a good-looking smile and an uninterrupted ability to talk and chew. Just like that.