Dental crowns are used to strengthen, protect, and cover a tooth that has become damaged or weakened. If you are having a problem with one or several of your teeth, your dentist might recommend having a dental crown put in place as a solution.

It's important for you to be well-informed about what dental crowns are and how they can be beneficial. You need to avoid inaccurate assumptions about dental crowns. The following are six things you shouldn't assume about dental crowns. 

Dental crowns are conspicuous and don't look like real teeth.

It will most likely not be possible to tell that you have a crown over your tooth rather than a completely natural tooth. Dental crowns look and function just like normal teeth, so you don't have to worry that they will be readily noticeable. 

You can't get a cavity on a tooth after you've had a dental crown put on it.

A dental crown only covers the top of a tooth. The rest of the tooth is natural and still susceptible to decay just like real teeth. That is why you still need to take good care of your tooth even after you've had a crown put on it so that you can avoid cavities. 

You don't have to get a dental crown put on right away.

In some cases, patients need to immediately repair a damaged tooth with a dental crown. You shouldn't assume that getting a dental crown put on is something that you can procrastinate about. If your dentist tells you that you need a crown right away, make your appointment and get it done quickly to protect your dental health. 

Dental crowns are just used for aesthetic purposes.

Dental crowns serve both aesthetic and functional purposes. They not only restore a natural appearance to a damaged tooth, but they also protect and strengthen the tooth. 

Dental crowns are very expensive.

When dental crowns are needed to fix a damaged tooth, they may be covered by your dental insurance. If you don't have dental insurance and need to pay out of pocket, you should know that dental crowns are significantly lower in cost than other options such as dental implants. 

A dental implant is always better than a dental crown.

For some patients, it's better to opt for a dental crown to fix a problem tooth than a dental implant. Not only are dental implants more expensive than crowns, but they also are not a good option for patients with issues like gum degradation and poor bone density in the jawbone.

Dental crowns, therefore, are frequently preferable to dental implants for certain patients. For more information, contact a company like Jayhawk Dental.