What Are Dental Crowns and Are They Effective?
Dental crowns are often used to repair worn-down teeth. Unlike the veneers, these restorations encase the entire tooth to restore its appearance and function. However, the effectiveness of the dental crowns will largely depend on the type of crown you choose, how it is fixed, and how you care for them.
Why Are Dental Crowns Used?
Our dentist may recommend getting dental crowns in Plano, TX, if you have severely worn out, weak teeth, misshapen, or uneven teeth. But, the dentist can also use the crowns to hold a dental bridge or cover the teeth implants.
The crowns can also come in handy in children who are prone to decay. A tooth crown dentist near you can use stainless steel crowns on the primary teeth to protect them against decay and cavities.
What Are the Types of Dental Crowns?
The teeth caps come in different materials, which differ in appearance, durability, and cost. They include:
- All-metal crowns
- All-porcelain or ceramic
- Porcelain-fused-to-Metal
- All-resin crowns
- Stainless steel crowns
These crowns come in gold, silver, platinum, or metal alloy. Metal is often durable and can withstand biting and chewing pressure. While they are strong, these metal crowns are not aesthetically pleasing. Because of these features, the crowns are most suitable for the back teeth
These crowns are tooth-colored and offer a seamless look. Because they resemble the teeth, they can be used on any tooth, including the front ones. The porcelain crowns are as expensive as the metal ones but fall short in durability. Although they are stain-resistant, they can discolor and get damaged.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal combines the durability of the metal and the aesthetics of the porcelain. They can be used on any tooth but work best for the back teeth. However, the metal part often forms a dark line on the gums, causing them to discolor.
All resin or composite crowns are the least expensive, but they are not as durable as the rest of the crowns. They are also prone to fractures than the porcelain and ceramic crowns.
These crowns are prefabricated in the dental office and are often used as a temporary measure. Our tooth crown dentist near you, may use the crowns to protect the teeth as you wait for the permanent ones to be made. They also do not require a comprehensive procedure and are great for children.
How Much Teeth Structure Is Required?
Although the teeth do require reshaping to make room for the crowns, you need to have sufficient tooth support. If the tooth structure is minimal, the teeth caps will not bond properly, and this may cause them to come out. The dentist may take a few more steps to create structure before fixing the crowns. Composite material is usually used to provide support for the crowns to be fixed.
How Are the Crowns Fixed?
Fixing the crowns need at least two dental visits, and the process involves a few steps:
- First visit
- Second dental visit
The dentist will begin the process by checking your jaw, the severity of the damage, and teeth support left. If there is a preexisting problem like decay, the dentist will remove it first.
The teeth need a little preparation to make it easy for the crowns to bond. This process may cause tooth sensitivity, and local anesthesia is used to numb the gums. Also, the dentist will cover the teeth with temporary crowns to protect them as you wait for the permanent ones to be made.
A cast or impression of the reshaped teeth is taken to make the permanent crowns.
The second consultation is scheduled three to four weeks after the teeth are reshaped. The dentist will remove the temporary ones, clean the teeth and gums, and use a special block of cement to fix the crowns. The cement can be hardened with laser light to hasten the process.
Final Thoughts
While the dental crowns do not need any special dental instructions, you need to care for the dental crowns to make them last for long.
Visit Arte Dental in Plano, TX for more information about dental crowns and what you can expect. Call us right now to book an appointment with our tooth crown dentist near you. Our expert tooth crown dentist also cater to patients residing in Frisco, Stanridge, Starwood, Stonebriar North, Plantation Estates, Wolf Creek Estates, Fairfax Hill, Spring Ridge, and nearby communit