In simple terms, a dental crown is a cap that covers the tooth. Many patients have crowns for a number of reasons, such as strengthening their teeth, as well as restoring their size, shape, and appearance. Once done, the crown fully covers the visible portion of the tooth above the gum line.
Why is a Dental Crown Needed?
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Denal crowns can be used to fix a tooth that has been weakened due to decay or other damage. Or it may be to cover a tooth that has been broken or worn down.Dental crowns Moreover, it can also hold a dental bridge in place or to cover severely discoloured teeth. Patients who get dental implants commonly get a crown as well. Other patients have crowns to cover misshapen teeth.
Dental crowns and caps aren’t just for adults—children may have them on teeth that have been damaged by severe decay and cannot hold a filling.
Types of Available Crowns
Permanent crowns can be made from a number of materials. These include:
Stainless Steel
This is typically a temporary measure while a more permanent crown is being made. This is also normally used on children, since the crown comes out once their permanent teeth come in.
Metals
This can include gold and other metal-based alloys such as nickel and chromium. One of the advantages of this material is that less tooth structure needs to be removed and there’s less wear-and-tear on the opposing teeth due to biting and chewing. They’re also highly resilient and will stand up to damage. These are recommended for teeth that are out of sight, such as molars.
All Resin
These are less expensive but are prone to wearing down quickly so are usually only for temporary situations.
Combination Metal and Porcelain
These crowns are best for situations where strength is needed from the metal, but it may be on a visible tooth so covering the metal with porcelain gives a cosmetic result.
All-Ceramic or All-Porcelain
These are best for people who have metal allergies or just want a natural look, making them the top choice for people looking to get crowns or caps on visible teeth.
Temporary Crowns
These are typically placed on a patient’s teeth while they are waiting for the permanent crown to be made. Your dentist makes the temporary crown in their office while the permanent one is made in a dental laboratory.
The Advantages of Dental Crowns
As with any medical, surgical, or dental procedure, there are many benefits of installing dental crowns; of course, there are also some disadvantages affiliated with dental crowns. There are many different types of dental crowns, and they each serve different purposes for different people. It all depends on the reason they are being utilized. Some people simply need them for aesthetic purposes while others prefer them over other dental procedures because they offer excellent protection against further tooth damage or decay. As long as you take proper care of them, dental crowns are long-lasting, durable, and they can help to relieve extremely uncomfortable symptoms.
Aesthetics
Dental crowns can provide valuable peace of mind and self-confidence when it comes to your dental appearance. The fact is that having cracked, yellow, decayed, or chipped teeth can cause people’s self-esteem to plummet to the point where they tend to avoid social functions and general public appearances. People try to hide their teeth simply by refusing to smile around other people. With porcelain dental crowns manufactured specifically to match the look and texture of your teeth, there is no need to feel embarrassed anymore because no one will even know you have had any dental work done. They blend in seamlessly with your natural teeth to restore your smile to its natural splendour.
Protection
Aside from their aesthetic appeal, dental crowns also serve the very important purpose of protecting your teeth from additional damage and decay. Some dentists have likened them to protective hats because they cover the entire surface of the affected tooth and they are impenetrable. Of course, this does not mean that you should neglect properly caring for them. On the contrary, regular brushing, flossing, and dental cleanings are absolutely mandatory in the fight against tooth decay, even around crowns.
Long-Lasting
Dental crowns are manufactured from strong and long-lasting materials, but as mentioned, installing them is only half of the job. The other half is maintaining and caring for them. This takes a great deal of work and commitment on the part of the patient.
Fortunately, it is not a difficult or time-consuming task. All you have to do is continue to follow your daily dental care routine and you should be fine. Realistically, your dental crowns should easily last you about 10 to 15 years. If you want to get the most out of them and avoid having to replace them more frequently than necessary, it is sensible to schedule regular dental cleanings and check-ups about every six months, or as often that is recommended for you.
Relief of Uncomfortable Symptoms
Another benefit of dental crowns is that they require very little maintenance but abundantly improve the functionality of the affected tooth or teeth, especially if you experience a great deal of pain when you chew food. Sometimes, a damaged tooth or multiple damaged teeth might even affect your speaking habits, making it sound like you have a speech impediment or creating a whistling sound as you speak. Covering the tooth with a dental crown could very well alleviate this irritating and uncomfortable symptom.
Simple Procedure
The procedure itself is quite simple, but the steps involved in completing it are manifold. First, the dentist will examine the affected area and take an X-ray to identify and assess any internal structural or nerve damage. Then, they will prepare the tooth for the insertion of the crown by removing damaged tissue and reconstructing missing parts of the tooth to strengthen it. The dentist will create an impression of the tooth and send it to a dental lab to construct the dental crown. A second appointment will be made about two to three weeks from the original visit, during which the dentist will practice quality control and ensure the crown is fitted correctly before sealing it in place.
As a dentist who provides dental crowns in Etobicoke, Princeview Dental takes you through every step of the process; from the initial consultation to actually placing the crown on your tooth. We advise you on your best options as well as the material that best fits your budget.
We offer a conveniently located office on Bloor Street West that’s easily reachable. For more information, we welcome you to browse through our web site.
