PROCRASTINATING WITH A CROWN
Were you that student in school? You know the one. The person who waited until 8 p.m. the night before a final to start studying. Or the one who started typing away on their computer mere hours before that all-important paper was due, despite knowing the deadline weeks ahead of time. Maybe to this day, you tend to be a chronic procrastinator, putting off undesirable tasks such as cleaning the gutters until the water pouring from your roof would give Niagara Falls a run for its money.
If any or all of the above sounds familiar, you’re in good—if less than ideal—company. As it turns out, one in five people in the United States is a chronic procrastinator with far more ‘fessing to a tendency to regularly delay performance of onerous tasks. Sure, the only harm in avoiding taking out the trash is the risk that your kitchen will end up with a slight smell of last night’s fish dinner, but putting off certain action items can cause far greater damage. This is certainly the case when it comes to taking care of your dental health and your need for a dental crown.
While the name may inspire a giggle-worthy image of tiara bedecked molars, crowns are actually caps or covers that are used to protect damaged or worn teeth. At Family Dentistry of Edgefield, we follow ADA guidelines for utilizing crowns to treat a variety of dental conditions. While we understand that visiting even our welcoming, comfortable, and friendly local dentist office doesn’t exactly rank up there with a trip to the movies on your “fun things to do” list, delaying taking care of your oral health can have a variety of negative consequences. Still need convincing? Keep reading as we delve into our top five reasons not to wait to schedule your dental crown procedure.
PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE
One of the main reasons dentists will often recommend a crown is to protect already damaged teeth. Crowns can be placed over large fillings where too little of the original enamel or material remains. If you have a cracked or broken tooth, crowns can also help hold things together, shoring up the strength of the underlying structure.
When patients delay their crown procedures, further damage often can and will occur to the already compromised teeth. Cracks can widen, additional cavities may form in large gaps or breaks, and patients may even run the risk of losing the tooth altogether. The sooner you schedule your crown procedure the higher the likelihood of a positive outcome and of preserving the functionality of your existing teeth.
ELIMINATE PAIN AND SENSITIVITY
On a daily basis, you probably go out of your way to avoid unnecessary pain and discomfort (unless you like to wear high heels to the office, but we digress). Most of us dress in layers so that we can add or shed thermal protection and not be at the whim of a fickle Mother Nature. Even the simple and seemingly automatic actions we take like looking both ways when we cross a street or blowing on hot food are designed to help keep us safe and discomfort free. Why, then, would you willingly sign yourself up for a toothache?
Having your crown procedure sooner rather than later helps eliminate pain caused by cracks, breaks, and other damage. Any disruption to the enamel covering of your teeth can also create excessive sensitivity when eating hot or cold foods. There’s plenty of unavoidable pain in our everyday lives (tax season anyone?), so why add to your troubles by ignoring your dental health?
IMPROVE YOUR SMILE
We’ve spent plenty of time in the past talking about how important a healthy smile is to more than just your physical well-being. Your smile is often the first and last thing noticed by everyone from family and friends to potential employers. A wide, confident, and healthy-appearing smile can boost your self-confidence, and lower stress. And bonus: a smile is contagious to those around you.
While dental crowns are often necessary to rectify damage and decay, they can also be used to restore or improve the look of your smile. A mold is used to map the underlying tooth structure from which a realistic looking crown is then created. The result is no more cragged, damaged, or otherwise unsightly teeth. With crowns, you can smile widely knowing that your teeth look and feel their best.
YES, YOU CAN AFFORD IT
Maybe the reason you’ve been putting off new tooth hardware has less to do with a tendency towards procrastination and more to do with a sense of dread over the size of the bill. If your pocketbook is flinching just thinking about a major dental procedure, you certainly aren’t alone. The anticipated high cost of dental care is the leading reason the majority of adults avoid obtaining regular tooth care.
At Family Dentistry of Edgefield, we believe that quality dental care can and should be accessible to everyone and that your dental crowns shouldn’t have to cost as much as the real deal. We accept a range of dental insurance options and our staff is dedicated to helping craft a treatment plan that fits your goals, lifestyle, and budget. Economics should never stand between our patients and the healthy smile they deserve and our creative solutions can help get your dental crowns or other procedure you need
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES
Last but not least on our list of the top five reasons you should stop putting off your procedure has to do with the misconception that modern dental crowns are a time-consuming process. In the past, being fitted for a crown required multiple visits and plenty of time taken out of your already busy schedule. Not to mention there could be a delay of several weeks between the initial molding and fitting and installation.
With the advent of modern technology, crowns can now be measured, crafted, and installed in a matter of hours rather than weeks. Computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) processes mean that your new smile can be 3D printed in a single visit for a dramatically improved experience. Modern technology used in office means no more temporaries, no more multiple visits, no messy impressions. Just simple, quick, and streamlined service for instantaneous smile results.
Now that we’ve debunked the myths, busted the misconceptions, and shared our knowledge on the benefits of getting your dental crowns sooner rather than later, the ball is in your court. Contact us today to schedule your initial appointment and take the next step toward your optimal oral health. Our knowledgeable dentists, administrative personnel, and support staff are waiting to show you the difference a local, hometown dentist can make in your oral and overall health and happiness.
