Blake Nelson, DDS
family of four hugging | dentist winston salem

What Are Dental Crowns Good For?

February 24, 2022
|
Posted By: Blake Nelson, DDS
3D rendering of dental crown in jaw l dental crown winston salem

Updated August 15, 2025

Dental crowns are a durable and versatile solution for a wide array of dental concerns. Designed to look just like natural teeth, dental crowns restore appearance while also strengthening and protecting teeth that have been weakened by breakage or untreated decay.

If your tooth needs more than a simple filling, a Winston-Salem dental crown specialist, like Blake Nelson, DDS, may recommend a crown as the optimal option for preserving its form, function, and integrity.

Common Reasons for Needing a Dental Crown

Dental crowns can be used to restore and protect teeth while also improving their appearance. They’re often recommended for:

  • Pitting or other forms of dental erosion
  • Fluorosis or other types of severe or permanent discoloration that may be resistant to professional whitening treatments
  • Cracking, chipping, or fractures
  • Misshapen teeth

By covering imperfections or damaged areas, a crown can restore a tooth’s natural shape and give you back a confident smile.

The Benefits of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns serve a variety of restorative purposes. Here are a couple of their most significant benefits:

  • Dental crowns restore the shape, strength, and function of a tooth.
  • By enabling normal biting and chewing, crowns promote healthy digestion and nutrient absorption.
  • Crowns protect damaged teeth from the dangers of breakage or infection.
  • Crowns enhance the appearance of misshapen, discolored, or poorly aligned teeth.
  • On top of dental implants, crowns fill gaps created by a missing tooth.

Long Lifespans, Low Maintenance

Dental crowns can last 10–15 years or more while only requiring the same care and maintenance as natural teeth—regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups. To maximize the lifespan of dental crowns, it’s also important to avoid habits like chewing ice, biting your nails, or using your teeth as tools.

Discover the Transformative Power of Dental Crowns in Winston-Salem

At Dr. Blake Nelson, DDS, we provide top-quality dental crowns to restore the function, natural aesthetics, and confidence of individuals in Winston-Salem. If you’re considering dental crowns or want to know whether they’re the right choice for you, contact our friendly and helpful team today to schedule a consultation!

Related Blog Posts
September 21, 2020
Esthetic Crowns to Repair Dark and Stained Teeth
Before and after images for esthetic dental crowns in Winston Salem

Do your teeth appear darker and stained?  Have you attempted whitening with no success? Dental crowns can be used to repair dark and stained teeth!  

Because dental crowns are used to cover or "cap" teeth, they can also be used to improve tooth shade or color, shape, and size.  After closely assessing your teeth, Dr. Nelson will carefully choose the best dental crown to esthetically improve your smile.  

In our last post, we showed how dental crowns can be used to repair dark margins along the gumline.  Here, Dr. Blake placed an esthetic, tooth-colored dental crown to repair a darkly stained and discolored tooth.  

 

September 14, 2020
Esthetic Dental Crowns to Repair Dark Margins
Before and after photo of Esthetic Dental Crowns by Dr. Blake Nelson in Winston Salem

Repair and Reinforce Teeth with Dental Crowns 

If you have a chipped tooth, a fractured tooth, or a tooth with a large filling or cavity, a dental crown may be recommended.  A dental crown is a "cap" that covers and protects the tooth.  The esthetic crowns at our office are tooth-colored and match your adjacent teeth perfectly.  Dental crowns may also be used to esthetically improve the appearance of teeth, such as making them appear whiter or larger.

In the above photo, Dr. Nelson used a crown to hide a dark line along the margin of a tooth.  The patient was very pleased with the esthetic result.  

If you have difficulty using our website, please email us or call us at (336) 760-1277
View the ADA Accessibility Statement