Dental crowns are protective caps placed over damaged or weakened teeth to restore their shape, size, strength, and appearance. They serve as a long-term solution for various dental issues such as cracked teeth, large fillings, severe decay, or misshapen teeth, providing structural support and preventing further damage.
By encasing the tooth entirely, crowns provide durability and stability, enabling individuals to chew, speak, and smile with confidence. Moreover, they enhance dental aesthetics, blending seamlessly with natural teeth for a seamless smile. Dental crowns preserve oral health, functionality, and aesthetics, ensuring a healthy, beautiful smile for years.
Types of Dental Crowns and Their Advantages
Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain crowns are crafted from dental porcelain, a material renowned for mimicking the appearance of natural teeth. They are custom made to match adjacent teeth's color, clarity, and texture, resulting in a seamless and natural-looking restoration.
The advantages of porcelain crowns include:
- Porcelain crowns can provide excellent cosmetic results, blending seamlessly with surrounding teeth for a harmonious smile.
- Porcelain is hypoallergenic and biocompatible, making it suitable for individuals with metal allergies.
Metal Crowns
Metal crowns are typically crafted from gold or other metal alloys, renowned for their exceptional strength and durability. They are often recommended for posterior teeth, where strength and longevity are paramount.
The advantages of metal crowns:
- Metal crowns withstand heavy chewing forces and are less prone to fracture or wear than other materials.
- Metal crowns require less tooth structure removal during preparation, preserving more of the natural tooth.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) Crowns
PFM crowns combine the strength of metal with the aesthetic appeal of porcelain. They feature a metal substructure for durability, with a layer of porcelain fused to the outer surface for improved aesthetics.
The advantages of PFM crowns include:
- PFM crowns balance strength and aesthetics, making them suitable for front and back teeth.
- The porcelain outer layer can be color-matched to adjacent teeth, providing a natural-looking restoration.
All-Ceramic Crowns
All ceramic crowns are fabricated entirely from dental ceramic materials, eliminating the need for a metal substructure. They are prized for their lifelike appearance and versatility.
The advantages of all-ceramic crowns include:
- All ceramic crowns offer exceptional aesthetics, resembling natural teeth in color, translucency, and texture.
- Ceramic materials are biocompatible and free from metal, making them suitable for individuals with metal sensitivities.
Zirconia Crowns
Zirconia crowns are constructed from zirconium oxide, a durable and biocompatible ceramic material known for its strength and aesthetics. They are increasingly popular for both anterior and posterior restorations.
The advantages of zirconia crowns include:
- Zirconia crowns are solid and resistant to fracture, making them suitable for posterior teeth subjected to heavy chewing forces.
- Zirconia can be customized for lifelike aesthetics, demonstrating excellent color stability and translucency.
The Dental Crown Procedure
Preparation Phase
The process begins with a thorough examination by the dentist to assess the tooth's condition and determine the need for a crown. If deemed necessary, the tooth is prepared by removing any decayed or damaged portions and reshaping it to accommodate the crown. This step may involve numbing the tooth and surrounding area with local anesthesia to ensure the patient's comfort. Once the tooth is prepared, impressions or digital scans are taken to create a mold of the tooth, capturing its exact size and shape.
Crown Fabrication
The impressions or digital scans are sent to a dental laboratory, where skilled technicians use them to fabricate a custom-made crown. The crown is crafted to match the color, shape, and size of the patient's natural teeth, ensuring a seamless and natural-looking restoration. Depending on the material chosen for the crown (such as porcelain, metal, or a combination of materials), the fabrication process may take several days to complete. In the meantime, a temporary crown may be placed over the prepared tooth to protect it until the permanent crown is ready.
Placement and Bonding
Once the permanent crown is ready, the patient returns to the dental office for the final placement. The temporary crown, if present, is removed, and the fit of the permanent crown is checked for accuracy and comfort. Any necessary adjustments are made before the crown is permanently bonded to the tooth using dental cement. The dentist carefully positions the crown over the prepared tooth, ensuring proper alignment and bite function. Once bonded, the crown becomes a durable and integral part of the tooth, providing strength, protection, and aesthetic enhancement. After placement, the dentist offers instructions for proper care and maintenance to ensure the crown's longevity and oral health. Contact us today!
The Benefits of Dental Crowns
- Dental crowns restore damaged or weakened teeth's shape, size, and strength, preserving their structural integrity.
- By encasing the entire tooth, crowns provide a protective barrier that shields it from decay, fracture, and wear, preventing the need for more extensive treatments in the future.
- Crowns are customized to match natural teeth's color, shape, and appearance, improving dental aesthetics and restoring a natural-looking smile.
- Strengthening weakened teeth improves chewing, biting, and speaking abilities, enhancing oral function and comfort.
- Crowns can address a variety of dental issues, including large fillings, cracks, fractures, misshapen teeth, and tooth discoloration, making them a versatile treatment option.
- By restoring damaged teeth, crowns help maintain proper oral hygiene and prevent complications associated with tooth loss or untreated dental problems.
Visit Blue Turtle Dental at one of our convenient locations at 2290 Birch St, Ste A, Palo Alto, CA 94306; 81 Birch Street, Redwood City, CA 94062; or 1394 Franklin St., Santa Clara, CA 95050 to learn more about how dental crowns can benefit you. You can schedule an appointment online or call us at (650) 503-6777, (650) 345-5300, or (408) 246-6030.