All About Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are a common aesthetic dental procedure used to restore teeth to their natural size, shape, and color. They can be made out of many materials, and taking care of them only requires a good oral hygiene routine.
What are Dental Crowns? A dental crown is a cover that your dentist puts over your tooth to restore its natural shape, size, and function. It’s also used to protect teeth and make damaged or missing teeth look more realistic. Crowns are used for a variety of reasons:
Cover a dental implant.
Protect teeth.
Restore broken or fractured teeth.
Stop a weak tooth from fracturing.
Cover discolored teeth.
Types of Dental Crowns Crowns are typically made of metal, all-porcelain, all-resin, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or all-ceramic. Let’s look more closely at each type of dental crown.
Metal Metal crowns can be made from a variety of materials like gold, nickel, chromium, and palladium. They’re the most durable crown material and won’t wear, chip, or break easily. Metal crowns also don’t require too much of your tooth to be removed. The main reason that people choose not to use metal crowns is their noticeable metallic color. They’re a great option for hard-to-see teeth.
All-Porcelain Porcelain crowns are the most popular choice for visible teeth, like front teeth, because they best match the natural tone of teeth. They’re also free of metals, making them a good option for those who don’t want metal in their mouth.
All-Resin Resin crowns, while less expensive than other crown types, wear down easier and are more likely to break.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal These are another type of popular crown that are great for matching the color of your teeth. The advantage of porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns is their durability and their ability to match the natural color of teeth. Cons of these crowns are that they can cause wear on teeth and can cause coloring on the gum line.
All-Ceramic Also called e-max or lithium disilicate crowns, these all-ceramic crowns are relatively new in dentistry. The e-max crown provides several benefits. They easily match the natural color of teeth, are durable, and can fit both front and back teeth. The main drawback of the lithium disilicate crown is its higher cost.
Dental Crown Procedures The procedure for inserting a dental crown into the mouth is normally done in multiple visits. On your first visit, your dentist will examine the tooth or teeth that need the crown, take x-rays, and may even do a full scan of your mouth. Then, your dentist will prepare your tooth for the crown. Typically, they do this by filling the tooth down to make space for the crown and taking an impression of your tooth to make the crown itself. Your dentist may also place a temporary crown on your tooth until your next visit.
On your second visit, your dentist will place your permanent crown on your tooth. They will also re-check the color of the permanent crown to ensure it matches your teeth.
How to Care for Dental Crowns On average, a dental crown can last up to 15 years, but that’s only if you properly take care of it. Avoid grinding or clenching your teeth, biting your fingernails, chewing on hard things like ice, and using your teeth for anything other than chewing.
Good crown care is similar to good oral care. You should floss daily, brush your teeth twice every day, and eat a healthy diet too.