Dental crowns are among the most frequently employed cosmetic dental restoration. Regularly used to repair teeth damaged from physical injury or decay, crowns are a very good option for those interested in restoring the strength to their teeth and the brilliance to their smile. Therefore a dental crown is considered both a functional and cosmetic dental device
When is a Dental Crown Useful?
Dental crowns are particularly useful to repair damage to individual teeth. Whether a tooth is cracked during a meal, worn down due to teeth grinding or damaged when participating in athletics, a dental crown is a common repair. They are most typically used in these following situations:
- Reinforce a weak tooth
- Restore a broken or worn tooth
- Protect a tooth that already has a large filling
- Protect a tooth that has had a previous root canal
- Support for a dental bridge
- Cover misshaped or discolored tooth
- Restore a dental implant
If you’re like most people, you’ve experienced the pain and embarrassment of a situation that can be remedied through the placement of a dental crown. Although there are many dentists in the Cherry Hill area that offer this treatment, our practice has helped many patients regain their oral health through the use of dental crowns.
What Is a Tooth Crown?
A dental crown, also known as a tooth crown, is a permanent covering that encircles or fits over a damaged tooth. Whether the tooth is cracked, decayed or damaged, the crown acts to support and protect the tooth while offering a more pleasant aesthetic appearance. Although dental crowns can be made from a variety of materials including gold, acrylic resin or cast metal, porcelain is the most popular because it offers a natural appearance. In addition to strengthening a damaged tooth, crowns can also whiten, reshape, and realign existing teeth, adding to a bright, healthy smile.
The Dental Crown Procedure
Once an examination has been performed and it has been determined that a dental crown is the best course of treatment for you, the procedure typically involves a two step process, but our practice does offer One Visit Crowns through the use of CEREC. During the initial visit of a two step process, the tooth to be crowned will be prepared by removing any damage and decay. At that time an impression of your tooth will be taken for use in fabricating a permanent crown and you will then receive a temporary crown until the customized crown has been made by a dental lab. Upon your return visit, the temporary will be removed and after ensuring that the permanent crown provide the proper look and fit, it will be cemented into place.
Benefits of Different Tooth Crown Materials
Permanent dental crowns can be constructed from many different materials, each of which offer advantages based on requirements dictated by your particular situation. Some of the most common materials used include:
Metals like gold, palladium and nickel are frequently used in used in dental crowns. Among the benefits of using metal versus other types of material, less tooth structure needs to be removed when using metal crowns, and tooth wear to opposing teeth is kept to a minimum. Furthermore, metal crowns tend to be more durable and normally withstand wear and tear the best.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal crowns tend to be more visually pleasing, because they can be color matched to your adjacent teeth and next to all-ceramic crowns offer the most natural appearance. However, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns create greater wear to opposing teeth, are generally less durable and can chip.
All-Resin dental crowns are among the least expensive crown types. As with most items, the tradeoff for a less costly crown is reduced durability and all-resin dental crowns wear down more quickly. However if you’re on a budget, all-resin crowns may be a good option for you.
All-Ceramic or All-Porcelain crowns provide the most natural appearance including a superior color match. In addition, they are often more suitable for those with metal allergies. Today, all ceramic crown rival the strength of porcelain fused to metal crowns. However, these crowns may wear down opposing teeth a little more than metal or resin crowns.
Clearly, each material used to create permanent dental crowns has its’ own set of strengths and weaknesses that go beyond this brief explanation. If you feel that you are a candidate to receive a dental crown, our staff will fully explain your treatment options and explain their recommended course of treatment. Contact us today.
