Dentoword : Today's Word is ' Dental Crown'

 Welcome to Dentoword:

Learn your dental terms with detailed explanation 

Today's word is " Dental Crown "

Definition :

Crown refers to the anatomical area of teeth, usually covered by enamel (Natural). 

                                                  OR

Crown also refers to a dental cap, which is a type of dental restoration that completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant (Artificial).

Anatomical features of a normal tooth crown :

• Anatomical crown : That portion of the tooth which is covered by enamel.

• Clinical crown : That portion of the tooth which is visible in the mouth.

Structures of a natural dental crown :

• Enamel : The hard tissue which covers the dentin of the anatomical crown.

• Dentin: The hard tissue which forms the main body of the tooth
• Pulp : The living soft tissue which occupies the pulp cavity of a vital tooth.

In today's blog,  I'll provide a brief introduction to the above-mentioned three terms. We are going to discuss these terms in detail in further blogs.

Functions of natural dental crown: 

1.Mastication - Chewing

2.Esthetics - Apperance 

3.Phonetics - Speech

4.Protection - Protects inner structure of tooth

Potential problems faced by crown in human oral cavity:

1.Tooth Cavities 

2.Crack lines and Fracture

3.Abrasion 

4.Attrition 

5.Erosion

Clinical significance of dental crown:

A. Maintaing oral health : Protects inner tooth structures from decay.

B. Restoration and Repair : 

• Damaged natural crowns can often repaired with fillings ,inlays, onlays and artificial dental crowns.
• Artificial dental crowns are made up of various materials .for e.g. Metal crowns,Porcelain fused to metal(PFM),All ceramic, zirconia crowns,resin crowns.

C. Aesthetic and Functional importance: 

Ensures effective chewing and speaking and healthy crowns contribute to a confident and attractive smile.

Conclusion:

Understanding and maintaining the health of your natural dental crowns is vital for overall dental helath. By practicing good oral hygiene,eating a tooth friendly diet and visiting your dentist regularly,you can ensure your natural crowns remain strong and healthy for a long time.

Reference:

1.Concise dental anatomy and morphology. by: Fuller, James L (4th edition-2001).

2.Image credit : www.freepik.com.