Can Dental Crowns Improve the Appearance of Natural Teeth?

dental crowns DallasAre your teeth worn down by decay or damage? Perhaps your teeth are misshapen and jagged in appearance. When people think of dental crowns, they typically think of diseased teeth. Fortunately, dental crowns have cosmetic applications, too. They can be used to conceal noticeable smile flaws while increasing oral function and improving the strength of teeth. Our dentist offers custom crowns made from lifelike materials that can protect teeth and enhance the appearance of a damaged tooth.

What are dental crowns?

Dental crowns are custom restorations that cover all a tooth’s structure above the gums. They are tooth shaped and made for a specific tooth in a person’s mouth. They fit over a tooth to protect it from external damage. A crown might be needed to repair extensive decay, chips, and cracks. Sometimes, when teeth are worn down, crowns might be used to rebuild teeth to their original size to prevent the development of a malocclusion.

What materials are used to make crowns?

A variety of materials can be used to fabricate a crown. In the past, the most common materials used were metal alloys like gold and silver. Today, however, patients have more options. Crowns can be constructed from very natural and beautiful looking materials like porcelain. If an all porcelain crown is not ideal, porcelain can be fused over metals and zirconia.

Why are crowns custom made?

Dental crowns need to be custom made so that they fit over a tooth and in between other teeth. Everyone’s teeth are different sizes as are their mouths. For this reason, a very customized approach is taken to produce a lasting restoration. To begin the process of making a custom crown, patients will visit our office to have molds (impressions) taken of their teeth. These impressions will be used along with photographs and diagnostic images to determine the exact specifications needed to fabricate a crown. This information is then sent to a dental laboratory where technicians will begin to create dental crowns. Once the restorations are ready, patients will return to our practice for the bonding process, which is non-invasive.

To learn more about your cosmetic and restorative dental options, call us to reserve a consultation with our dentist.