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Dental crowns have been around for a long time, but in recent years the improvements made have resulted in long lasting, beautiful restorations that are difficult to discern from your biological teeth. Materials Make a Monumental Difference Before the use of porcelain, metal crowns ruled the day. Back teeth may have received a gold or metal crown while teeth in the smile line often received crowns made from porcelain fused to metal. This was the best thing available, but could result in a visible dark line where the crown and tooth base meet. While metals are still used today, especially for teeth not easily seen, porcelain dental crowns have grown in popularity for many reasons. Porcelain crowns are strong, long lasting, and aesthetically pleasing. Your dentist has the capability of placing a crown that so closely resembles neighboring teeth, it is virtually impossible to detect a crowned tooth. Your dentist may discuss an onlay or inlay … these are crowns that require less of your tooth’s structure to be removed and are often placed on teeth with decay to protect and strengthen the tooth. Dental Crowns Serve Many Useful Purposes If a tooth is broken, a dental crown allows your dentist to save your tooth from being extracted. A severely decayed tooth can be protected from loss or further damage when covered with a crown. A dental crown is often the final step to complete a root canal. With endodontic treatment, an access point is needed to clean out the root canals. Very often this access point is permanently sealed with a dental crown. Patients who opt for a fixed prosthesis may require adjacent abutment teeth to be crowned to attach a partial or bridge. Following tooth loss, patients who select a dental implant will complete treatment with a crown that will be secured to the implant abutment. Caring for a tooth that has received a crown is as easy as what you do for all your teeth. Brush twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste and floss daily. Your dentist will demonstrate how to floss around a crowned tooth. Visit our dental team every six months for cleaning and exam. It is important to remember that although a crown has allowed your dentist to save your tooth, proper care is needed to prevent gum disease from developing.
When teeth develop decay, restorative dental care is needed to protect healthy tooth structure and prevent the development of infections and further degradation of teeth to disease. One common method for treating tooth decay is by having a dentist place a dental crown. These restorations are recommended for advanced tooth decay that has affected a significant amount of tooth structure. How can a dental crown benefit me? Dental crowns are more extensive restorations than fillings. They protect all visible surfaces of tooth from oral debris and bacteria. They strengthen existing tooth structure, too. This means that people who have extensive decay can simultaneously prevent the advancement of decay and protect existing tooth structure with a dental crown. An oral healthcare provider might also recommend dental crowns for teeth that have been cracked and chipped as well as those affected by substantial tooth wear. What do dental crowns look like? Dental crowns are shaped like teeth, except that they have a hollowed center. They can be fabricated from a few types of materials that affect their appearance. Common materials used to produce crowns include metal alloys like gold, silver, and zirconia. Those desiring discreet restorations often choose porcelain or porcelain fused to metal for a more natural looking appearance. How do I care for dental crowns? Dental crowns are easy to take care of because you can treat them like natural teeth. You will brush and floss your biological teeth as well as your restorations. Some patients choose to use oral hygiene tools like water irrigators to clean around the base of their restorations. While dental crowns are very durable, it is important to take precautions to protect your restorations. This means that you should avoid chewing on hard objects like pen caps and ice cubes. You should also receive routine checkups and cleanings to ensure that your teeth and your restorative dental work are in good shape. For more information about the restorative dental services we offer, call our practice today to reserve time with our dentist.
Has your dentist told you that you need a dental crown? A dental crown is a common restoration that helps patients prolong the life of damaged biological teeth. Crowns are low-maintenance and easy to care for when one practices proper oral hygiene. Like teeth, a patient will brush and floss their restorations to keep them clean. What are crowns made from? Dental crowns can be made from a few different kinds of materials. The most commonly used materials are metals such as gold and silver and tooth-colored porcelain. Zirconia crowns are becoming increasingly popular as well. When it comes to determining the material for a restoration, it is ultimately the patient’s choice. Some folks choose their restoration’s material based on their financial situation while others could choose higher-end materials for aesthetic reasons. Fortunately, our team is here to help you navigate your many treatment options. When are crowns recommended? An oral health professional might recommend the placement of a crown for a few reasons. If a tooth has developed significant wear, a crown can restore a damaged tooth to its rightful shape and size. Crowns are useful for protecting chipped and cracked teeth as well as teeth that have sustained extensive decay. Since crowns can be made from tooth-colored materials and look incredibly lifelike, they can be used for cosmetic reasons in addition to restorative ones. Porcelain crowns can make a damaged tooth look perfectly white and healthy while protecting its surfaces from harmful oral bacteria and the biting forces associated with eating meals. Are dental crowns disease-resistant? Yes, the materials used to make dental crowns are resistant to disease. While the materials used to make dental crowns is not living tissue, a tooth and the structures surrounding it can still develop disease even if a crown is present. For example, a crowned tooth can develop an infection if the roots of teeth become exposed to debris and oral bacteria. Those with restorations should continue to visit the dentist as normal for checkups and cleanings. They should also practice vigilant oral hygiene. If people do not practice proper oral hygiene, the gingiva surrounding restorations and prosthetics can become infected. For more information, contact the office of Barry H. Buchanan, DDS, and schedule a consultation today.
When planning for restorations for damaged teeth, such as dental crowns, patients have a number of concerns. For example, they may wonder how the crown will affect their chewing function, forcing them to give up their favorite foods. The good news is that dental crowns are quite strong and help to preserve the functionality of the biological tooth, including its ability to participate in chewing a variety of foods. Dental crowns are typically made of porcelain or ceramic materials, which may or may not be combined with metal to give the restoration additional strength. Furthermore, after the dentist bonds the crown to your biological tooth, that also makes it heartier and able to withstand normal chewing forces, within reason. Of course, dental crowns are not indestructible. Patients should use common sense. If you attempt to chew anything that could harm your natural tooth, it has the potential to damage a dental crown, as well. Your dentist will give you more detailed instructions on limitations of your new dental crown, as well as information on oral hygiene necessary to keep the crown in good condition. In addition to being rather strong, dental crowns come with a quick treatment timeline. After an initial consultation in which all necessary data is collected, that information is then forwarded to the dental lab that will design and create the crown. That process takes a few weeks. When the crown is ready, the patient returns to the office to have the crown bonded in the tooth. While you are waiting for the permanent crown, you may be fitted with a temporary restoration that is not as durable as the permanent crown. You should be able to eat nearly all foods after you get a dental crown, although your provider may give you some specific restrictions to protect the longevity of the restoration. Be sure that you understand the directions for caring for your dental crown, including what you can eat and what you should avoid. If you have any questions about the maintenance of your dental crown, don’t hesitate to ask one of our knowledgeable staff members. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation!
Are 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.
Dental crowns have been used in multiple applications for decades. Materials have changed and the appearance of those restorations has improved. Millions of teeth have been saved employing dental crowns, but they are used for more than just covering a decayed or broken tooth. Metals were the primary base for crowns until the discovery that porcelain could do the job with a more aesthetically appealing solution. Porcelain is stain resistant and durable making it the leading choice for many crown applications. Salvage a broken tooth – while many patients believe it is more prudent to just extract a broken or decayed tooth, if it can be saved with a crown that is a much better solution. Once a biological tooth is removed, it either needs to be substituted or the patient must deal with the possibility of remaining teeth shifting toward the open spot; dealing with chewing difficulties; and appearance issues for teeth lost in the smile line. Another tooth saving procedure involves endodontic therapy (a root canal). When the nerve of a tooth is impacted due to trauma or infection, the roots of the tooth need to be purged of their contents. During a root canal, the treated tooth is opened with an access point and endodontic files are used to extract the nerve, pulp, and infectious material from the roots of the tooth. The other option to root canal therapy is to pull the tooth. Once the root canal is completed, the access point needs to be sealed. A dental crown provides the ideal final step for this procedure. Other applications for dental crowns include using them as abutments for fixed bridges. When tooth loss does occur, a bridge can be used by crowning both sides around lost teeth. The center teeth of the bridge are called pontics. A bridge provides a wonderful solution; but for a result that is closest to having your own natural teeth back, dental implants may be selected. A dental implant is a tiny titanium post that is surgically placed in gum tissue where tooth loss has occurred; as healing occurs, bone is merging with the post to provide a stable and secure foundation for the final restoration – a dental crown – that has been made to match surrounding natural teeth making this procedure undetectable. Your dentist can resolve many dentition problems using dental crowns. Contact us today at the office of Dr. Buchanan to set up a consultation!
Dental crowns have many useful purposes including saving teeth that otherwise might be lost to excessive decay, breaks, trauma, and infection. Many cavities are repaired with a tooth colored filling called composite resin. However, teeth that have incurred so much decay that another filling is not sustainable, a dental crown is an option that allows the patient not only to retain their tooth, but the likelihood of salvaging that tooth for life is magnified versus attempting another repair. A broken or cracked tooth might be reparable with bonding or a filling if the damage is minimal, but for many of these, the best option for ultimately saving the tooth is with a crown. Trauma or infection can result in the need for endodontic therapy, also known as a root canal. The dental provider will drill an access point into the tooth and remove the damaged contents of the root of the tooth. Upon completion, the access point must be sealed. In a majority of cases, the best choice for this final step is a dental crown. Once a crown has been made and cemented in place, the tooth it protects is stronger than the natural tooth. That is because the material the crown is made from is strong, stain resistant and offers the same features of size, shape and shade of the tooth beneath it. There are usually no food restrictions (except for sticky foods like caramel that might be able to pull at the crown during chewing). The crown feels as natural as the tooth it covers and with its lifelike appearance, no one can discern your crown from your biological teeth. In addition to repairing or protecting your tooth, dental crowns have other uses. They can be used to anchor a dental prosthesis like a bridge or as the final step in acquiring a dental implant. The process of getting a dental crown occurs by having your tooth prepared by filing down a portion of the tooth, taking a dental impression to send to the lab for crown fabrication, trying in the crown for fit and appearance when it comes back from the lab and making any minor adjustments needed for the best fit at that time. The final result is a cosmetic restoration that looks beautiful and provides full function for the patient. If you think you’re in need of a crown, contact our office today to set up your appointment!