2022-09-28T01:00:41+00:00

Many people find that at some point in their life, their dentist and oral health therapist as part of a dental team recommends that they get a tooth strengthening procedure in order to preserve the life of a tooth. In this post we are going to take a look at what tooth strengthening  and dental crowns are, so you can prepared should the time come.

Why would I need tooth strengthening?

There are many issues that can affect our teeth and cause them to lose the strength that they originally had. Possible causes are infections, tooth decay, cracks, multiple fillings and oral trauma.

To fix these problems, you can have a tooth strengthening procedure. If you don’t go down this path, you risk decay or infections getting worse, further cracks developing, and may end up with a tooth needing removal.

Types of tooth strengthening procedures

Currently there are two main types of tooth strengthening procedures.

Dental Crowns

Crowns look like tooth-shaped jackets that are put over a tooth and can be made from materials such as porcelain or zirconia. They are recommended for people that have previous infections (root canal treatment), cracks, large chips or trauma.

dental screws placed into the gums

Inlays & Onlays

An inlay is a filling that sits inside your tooth, and an onlay sits on the outside of your tooth. These are typically used in teeth that have a large amounts of tooth decay, and work together to strengthen your tooth by reducing tooth decay damage. They are often used when a tooth is not strong enough to hold a regular filling.

What to expect when you need a crown 

  1. After giving being numb, your dentist will prepare the tooth to be ready for a crown, with the healthy part of the tooth shaped appropriately.
  2. Moulds of your teeth will be done so that the crown can be made to fit correctly, and you’ll have a temporary crown put on.
  3. The crown will be made – this could take anything from one day up to two weeks depending on the clinic you visit and the area you live.
  4. When the new crown is ready, it will be bonded to your tooth and the dentist will check to see if your bite is lined up and that you are comfortable.

What to expect when you need an inlay/onlay

The process is a bit simpler for inlays/onlays. You’ll have one appointment where impressions are taken of your teeth, and a second where they are cemented in.

How long is the recovery?

After having a tooth strengthening procedure, it’s likely you will feel some discomfort for a few days, but this can be easily managed.

Your dental team will advise you about what to eat and how to take care of your teeth moving forward.

Have you had a check-up recently?

Our team of oral health therapists and dentists would be delighted to give you a check-up and teeth cleaning if it’s been a while since your last appointment. We can make sure that your smile is looking great and advise you the best course of action if we happen to notice any problems. Give Coburg Hill Oral Care a call on 03 9041 5301 or drop in and see us at our clinic to make an appointment.