Are you thinking about postponing your new dental crowns?
Time and money often feel in short supply these days, so when it comes to scheduling dental appointments, you’re probably wondering which procedures take priority and which can wait.
Postponing dental work like crowns can be tempting. Maybe your schedule is packed and booking an appointment gets pushed to the back burner. Or maybe you experience dental anxiety, and you’re nervous about getting crowns placed. Whatever the reason may be, in most cases, waiting too long to get your new crowns isn’t a good idea.
Here are 7 reasons why you shouldn’t wait to get your dental crowns.
1. Leaving tooth decay untreated only leads to further dental problems in the future.
When tooth decay is too severe for a simple filling, your dentist may recommend a dental crown instead. Waiting to get the decay removed and the crown placed can lead to further decay of your current problem tooth and even the surrounding teeth.
Tooth decay can spread faster than you think. Not only does it destroy healthy tooth structures, but it can also cause everything from gum inflammation to chronic bad breath. If decay becomes too severe, there may not be enough healthy tooth structure left for a crown, and an extraction may be needed instead.
2. A structurally weak tooth can potentially crack, or even shatter, without a crown to cap it.
Even if tooth decay is no longer present, your dentist will often recommend a crown for a weakened tooth. Teeth are exceptionally strong, but they can still crack or break when the tooth structure has been compromised.
In the case of a weak tooth breaking, there’s no way to know how much damage is possible. You might get lucky by chipping only a small piece and still being able to get a crown; however, the odds are slim, and it’s all too easy to bite down on a piece of food the wrong way and severely crack or shatter a weak tooth.
3. Waiting to get a crown after root canal therapy can lead to the loss of your tooth.
The final step in getting a root canal is having the treated tooth capped. Between the root canal itself and getting the permanent crown, some patients choose to wait to finish the final step since the tooth is covered by a temporary crown and seems stable.
While your temporary cap might seem strong, this really isn’t the case. Many root canals are accompanied by significant decay removal, which means you could have less tooth structure left under your temporary than you might think. Temporary crowns leave your tooth vulnerable to breaking when worn longer than intended. Temporary crowns can also pop off, causing you to schedule an emergency dental appointment to have it replaced.
4. Getting a dental crown now can save you from dental bridges or implants in the future.
Compare the process of getting a dental crown to the process of getting a tooth extracted and you’ll know which option is ideal. Getting an extraction can be less expensive than a crown, but the issue is you’ll be left without a tooth.
Not only can your confidence in your smile take a blow (especially if it’s in a very visible spot), but you can also have trouble chewing if you have multiple missing teeth. In the grand scheme of things, getting a dental crown now and saving your tooth is much less expensive and time-consuming than getting an extraction followed by a bridge or implant.
5. You’ll feel more confident in the appearance of your smile once you get your dental crown placed.
Damaged and/or discolored teeth can take away from the beauty of your smile. Smiling is really important, and feeling like you can’t smile brightly and boldly because of your teeth is not a situation you want to be in. By getting your crowns placed quickly, you’ll be able to experience the aesthetic benefits of porcelain crowns, as well as the functional advantages.
At Tory Hill Dental, Dr. Fenn uses two different porcelain materials: Emax and Empress. Porcelain crowns are ultra-realistic in appearance and will perfectly match your teeth. By using E4D digital scanning technology, your custom crowns will look indiscernible from your natural teeth to anyone who admires your smile.
6. Promptly taking care of dental treatments, like crowns, saves you time and money in the long run.
There are truly no downsides to getting dental treatments, like crowns, taken care of as quickly as you can—only benefits! The sooner you get your permanent crowns placed, the sooner you can enjoy your smile, go back to eating a normal diet, and finally get rid of tooth sensitivity or toothaches.
It’s also worth mentioning again that staying on track with your dental treatments saves you time and money. Putting off your crowns might mean more expensive procedures in the future, whether it’s an extraction or another crown on a neighboring tooth due to spreading decay. And with that comes more appointments and more of your time spent in the dental office.
7. Same-day crowns can be an option if you can’t or don’t want to wait for a custom crown.
At Tory Hill Dental, Dr. Fenn offers custom porcelain crowns. Porcelain crowns take time for a lab to create and often require two dental appointments, but the results are stunning and long-lasting. Some dental offices offer same-day CEREC crowns, which are made of a ceramic material. Although not as durable or lifelike in appearance, CEREC crowns might be preferred by some patients who can’t or don’t want to wait for porcelain crowns. For example, maybe you’re about to leave for a long trip out of the country and need the crown placed as quickly as possible.
If the wait of a porcelain crown is what’s putting you off from getting treatment, make an appointment to speak with Dr. Fenn to learn more about your options.
Schedule your crown appointment with Dr. Fenn at Tory Hill Dental.
Whether you’re ready to get your beautiful new dental crowns or you’re looking for a new dentist to help you get your oral health back on track, the team at Tory Hill Dental is eager to help.
When you’re ready to schedule your appointment with Dr. Fenn, you can either give the Tory Hill Dental office a call or use our online Request An Appointment form.