When it comes to dental procedures, crowns are one of the most common and effective ways to enhance your teeth. Be it to treat a damaged tooth or to aesthetically boost your smile; dental crowns offer it all.
But despite their advantages, not everyone can get a crown. Your dental health must be at the top of its game to be able to withstand the procedure. Not to mention, there is a certain amount of tooth that is needed for successful crown placement. Otherwise, the crown might slip and fall. Thus, if you would like to know more about the specifics of getting a dental crown, keep on reading this blog.
How Much Tooth Is Needed For A Crown?
Technically, you need your tooth very much intact for a successful dental crown procedure. This is because your natural tooth serves as an anchor for the crown. Considering how crowns are hollow on the inside, they need to be attached to a solid base to work properly.
Thus, on the minimum, you need at least 1/4 of your tooth. That, too, needs to be healthy and secure.
For instance, a tooth dealing with enamel loss or weak tissues might not be the best fit for a crown. Unless your pearly whites are strong, healthy, and have enough enamel to safeguard the dentin, you cannot undergo the treatment. However, to determine this, your dentist will thoroughly examine your tooth and ensure whether or not you are a suitable candidate for the placement procedure.
Can You Put A Crown On A Rotten Tooth?
It depends on how badly rotten your tooth is. That is to say, if your tooth is completely black and is about to fall out from decay, they no. You can not put a crown on such a tooth. However, if your tooth is dealing with a severe cavity, where even a filling might not be possible, then a crown might be just what you need.
The dentist will first purge your tooth of all the bacteria before placing the crown on top. This will effectively create a tight seal, protecting your tooth from vulnerabilities and external harm.
Treatments To Consider When There’s Not Enough Tooth For A Crown
In the case that you do not have enough healthy tooth material for a crown to fit, your dentist will most likely refer you to other dental procedures. These can include the following:
- Dental Implants
- Tooth Extraction
- Composite Bonding
- Post-and-Core Foundation
Closing Word
As wonderfully convenient as crowns are, they need a stable foundation to anchor themselves. So if you’re thinking of undergoing the procedure but don’t know much tooth is needed for a crown, don’t worry. All it takes is ¼ of your natural tooth for the crown to settle properly. This is so that the crown does not slip and has stable support underneath.
If you have further questions or would like to schedule an appointment, contact Waller Dental at (936) 372-2673 today. You can also visit us at 31315 Farm to Market 2920 #16a, Waller, TX 77484, located right in the heart of Waller Village.