4 Options For Dental Crowns
Dental Crowns are versatile. Cosmetic dentists love to use them to perform challenging, intensive smile makeovers. General dentists use dental crowns to save weak, badly damaged teeth from extraction. Periodontists and prosthodontists recommend them to patients with missing teeth. To put it another way, a crown has both restorative and cosmetic applications.Just like there are several uses for dental crowns, there are several options for dental crowns. Keep reading to learn about different options for crowns.
How dental crowns work
The crown is the visible part of the tooth; the part that sits above the gumline. It shares a name with the dental restoration that dentists refer to as a dental crown.A dental crown looks just like a natural tooth, at least in terms of shape (not always color, though). It sits on an underlying tooth like a sheath, covering the tooth from its biting surface to the base of the gums. Here is how a dentist installs it:
- In the case of tooth decay or pulpitis, the dentist will remove damaged and infected tissue from the tooth. They will proceed to clean and disinfect the resulting hole
- The dentist will then prepare the tooth by filing away a thin layer of enamel. This creates space for the crown to fit between adjacent teeth
- Next, the dentist takes an impression of the prepared tooth and sends it to a dental lab, where it acts as a template for the fabrication of a dental crown
- The dentist sends the patient home with a temporary crown
- Once the dentist gets the custom crown from the lab, they call the patient in for a second procedure. They attach the permanent crown to the tooth with dental cement
The dentist goes on to put finishing touches on the crown before sending their patient home with a brand new tooth.
Options for dental crowns
Dental crowns have several applications, so it follows that there are several types of dental crowns. For example:
1. Metallic crowns
Metal crowns are strong and durable. They can withstand the shearing forces of grinding and the direct pressure of crushing as a person chews. This type of crown rarely breaks. It rarely comes loose. It is for these reasons that a metal crown can last a lifetime.Patients who opt for metal crowns often need their molars restored. The dark color of this type of crown relegates it to the back of the mouth, except for the freest of spirits.
2. Porcelain crown with a metal base
This type of crown combines the toughness of metal with the tooth-colored aesthetic of porcelain. The metal part of the crown acts as a base or abridgment. The porcelain shell acts as an outer cover that sits on top of the metal base.Porcelain-and-metal crowns are not as sturdy as their metallic cousins, but they are tooth-colored, which counts for a lot. However, their metal bases are visible at the gumline.
3. Porcelain crowns
They are made of porcelain and nothing else. Being translucent and tooth-colored, porcelain crowns are popular with patients and dentists alike. They blend nicely with the rest of the teeth, making them the go-to option for cosmetic dentists.Though porcelain crowns are not as strong as dental crowns with metal bases, they are still tough. However, there is a type of porcelain crown that has a base of milled ceramic. This type of crown is as tough as a porcelain-and-metal crown.
4. Resin crowns
Dentists or dental labs create resin crowns with dental resin, which has the white color of teeth. Resin crowns are affordable, but they are nowhere near as tough and as durable as other types of crowns.
Chances are that a crown can fix your oral health problems
Our dentist installs countless dental crowns each year, and you should join his long list of happy clients. That is a great reason to get in touch with us today.Request an appointment here: https://www.mariettaroswelldentist.com or call Marietta Roswell Dental Care at (770) 993-2657 for an appointment in our Roswell office.
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