What Are Dental Crowns and Why Are They Needed?
Isn’t it surprising how all dentists, including kids’ dentists in Columbia, rely on dental crowns to perform many dental procedures in dentistry? Of the many oral appliances for restorative dental care, dental crowns are among the most versatile devices. They can achieve various transformations in your mouth, including improving the appearance of your smile.
What Are Dental Crowns?
They are tooth-shaped oral appliances used in dentistry to restore teeth. They mimic the external structure of a natural tooth regarding color and shape. Dental crowns near you are typically created based on the impressions of your mouth. It means that one dental crown cannot look exactly like another one because it is created for the exact shape of your teeth.
How Are Dental Crowns Used in Dentistry?
Dr. Harold Jablon incorporates dental crowns for different restorative procedures to treat dental issues that damage teeth. Some of the ways that dental crowns can restore teeth include the following:
- Repairing damaged tooth structures – dental crowns are most popular for their ability to restore damaged teeth. Whether you have cracked, chipped, or broken teeth, dental crowns can restore the structure of your enamels. It is why many kids’ dentists near you will suggest using tooth crowns for treatment after your child suffers a dental injury.
- Creating a dental bridge – tooth bridges are used to replace missing teeth. They feature dental crowns and an artificial replacement tooth. In this case, a dental crown supports the artificial tooth, completing the bridgework.
- Covering a tooth implant – implants in dentistry help replace missing teeth by first replacing the roots of teeth. Once an implant is secured in your jaw bone, your dentist covers it with a dental crown to complete your tooth replacement procedure.
- Holding a tooth filling – after a tooth repair treatment with a dental filling, your dentist may place a crown over your treated tooth, especially in the case where the tooth filling is too large.
- Capping a tooth after a root canal procedure – root canal procedures help treat the insides of your teeth, ridding them of infections. After your treatment, however, your dentist may place a dental crown to cover the tooth, protecting and strengthening it.
Types of Dental Crowns
Now that you know how dental crowns can help your smile, be particular when choosing the type of crown used for your treatment. The available types of crowns in dentistry are:
- Gold crowns – feature a metal alloy of metals like copper, chromium, or nickel. Gold crowns are praised for their sturdiness, but they can be costly because of the materials used. Since metal is not bio-compatible, you may have allergic reactions to your dental crowns, although it is not a common occurrence.
- Porcelain or ceramic crowns – are the most popular types of tooth crowns used today. They feature tooth-colored porcelain or ceramic material and are also very sturdy for restoring teeth. The best part is that you get to pick the color of porcelain you want for your teeth to complement your smile.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns – have a metal cap covered by tooth-colored porcelain material. They are also aesthetically pleasing because of the porcelain material used, yet less costly than all-porcelain crowns. Since you may notice a grey line at the gum line due to the metallic component of these crowns, they are not 100% aesthetically pleasing.
- Zirconium crowns – are fairly new crowns featuring translucent zirconium material that has great aesthetics. They are very natural-looking and do not wear out easily. They are also considered no-prep crowns, meaning that they can be created and installed in one dental visit without being sent to a dental lab.
What Are the Best Dental Crowns for You?
The most important thing is to understand that you need dental crowns for restoring your teeth. Once you have understood that fact, you will not have a hard time selecting the right tooth crowns for your smile. Consider factors like aesthetics, durability, sturdiness, and the cost of your crowns before getting them. The best way to choose your crowns is through liaising with your dentist to determine what is best for you relative to the position of the target tooth.