Dental Crowns

Dental crowns (also known as dental ‘caps’) are used in both restorative and cosmetic dentistry. By covering a damaged tooth, they can improve the function and appearance of the tooth. Dental crowns are also used to cap dental implants or hold dental bridges in place. You can get the smile you have always wanted by undergoing this simple treatment.

A Good Candidate for Dental Crowns

Most healthy, well-adjusted people are good candidates for dental crowns. If you have damaged or decayed teeth, dental crowns can restore their original function and improve your health. If you want to improve the appearance of stained or misaligned teeth, dental crowns can make your smile more aesthetically pleasing.

As there are many different types of dental crowns available, you can choose one that is right for you. Your dentist will be able to help you make decisions regarding your treatment after he or she has established that you are a good candidate for dental crowns.

Benefits of Dental Crowns:

· Protect a weak tooth from further decay or breakage (if the tooth is starting to crack)

· Restore a tooth that has been worn away over time or broken during a traumatic incident

· Cover and support a tooth that has a large filling when there is not much tooth left

· Cap a dental implant

· Hold a dental bridge in place

· Cover a tooth that is severely discolored and has been resistant to teeth whitening

· Improve the appearance of misshapen or misaligned teeth so you have a straighter smile

A good candidate for dental crowns needs to be committed to looking after their dental crowns and maintain good oral hygiene. They need to be disciplined about cleaning and flossing their teeth so no food particles get trapped under the dental crown and cause further tooth decay.

Both adults and adolescents are good candidates for dental crowns. Children are usually treated with fillings or metal crowns because their teeth are not permanent. If an adolescent requires a dental crown to treat tooth decay, they should discuss why they have such damage at an early age with their dentist and see if other issues need to be addressed.

Pregnant women are not usually good candidates for dental crowns because x-rays are required and this would expose the pregnancy to radiation. If the woman wants dental crowns for aesthetic reasons it would be best if she waited until after giving birth. If she needs dental crowns for health or functional reasons, she will need to speak to the dentist about her available options.

To be a good candidate for dental crowns you need to have healthy gums. This may be an issue if your teeth are generally in bad shape. If your teeth have significantly decayed, you may require a root canal before getting dental crowns so they can protect and strengthen your teeth.

If you are a good candidate for dental crowns you may also be a good candidate for other dental procedures such as dental bridges, dental implants or dental veneers. Talk to your dentist today about what your options are.

Types of Dental Crowns

There are many different types of dental crowns available to patients wanting to correct the function or aesthetics of their teeth. Each type of dental crown is made of a different material: metal, porcelain fused to metal, resin, ceramic, porcelain or acrylic/stainless steel. Depending on what sort of results the patient desires, a specific dental crown will be chosen. Some dental crowns are designed for specific locations in the mouth while others are designed to treat specific issues.

Your dentist will examine your situation and make sure you are a good candidate for dental crowns before discussing which type is best for you.

Metal Dental Crowns: Metal dental crowns are good for individuals who require crowns on their back molars because they are strong and can withstand chewing and grinding. They are usually made of gold, nickel, chromium or a mixture of metals which means their metallic color is observable.

They are the most durable type of dental crown and can last for a lengthy amount of time without chipping or breaking.

Porcelain Fused to Metal Dental Crowns: These types of dental crowns are strong and appear natural so they can be used on both front and back teeth. The color is matched to your surrounding teeth so the crown does not look out of place. As the name suggests, the dental crowns are actually porcelain fused to metal, not completely porcelain.

One of the main disadvantages of this type of dental crown is that the metal along your gum line may begin to show as your gums recede over time. The surrounding teeth may also be worn down by these dental crowns, more so than with metal or resin crowns.

Although porcelain fused to metal dental crowns are very durable, they are not completely resistant to chipping or breaking.

All Porcelain or all Ceramic Dental Crowns: These types of dental crowns look the most natural and although they are significantly strong, they are not strong enough to be durable back teeth. That is why they are most often used as crowns for front and side teeth. They can be very closely color matched to not stand out.

All porcelain or all ceramic dental crowns are however, more prone to chipping and breaking than metal or porcelain fused to metal dental crowns. These types of dental crowns are particularly suitable for patients who have allergies to metal.

Resin Dental Crowns: Resin dental crowns are the least durable type of dental crown because resin is not a strong of substance as porcelain, ceramic or metal. They are particularly prone to fracturing and breaking and often need to be replaced. One of the main advantages of resin dental crowns is their affordable cost.

Temporary Dental Crowns: Temporary dental crowns can be made out of acrylic or stainless steel and are created in the dental office. They are not custom made to fit you perfectly but placed over your tooth after your first dental appointment.

Temporary crowns are designed to cover a filed down tooth while you are waiting for your actual crown. They are not as durable and need to be looked after carefully.