Dental crowns are needed when teeth start to wear down, crack or break. This is due to a variety of factors such as teeth grinding, an improper bite, fillings, tooth decay and age. In these instances, a dental crown adds strength, stability, and durability to the affected tooth.

The most common porcelain crown restoration, placed by most general dentists today, utilizes a metal lining covered with porcelain. These types of restorations are not as natural in appearance because light is not able to pass through porcelain-metal crowns as it does with a natural tooth resulting in an opaque or flat looking tooth. Often times these types of traditional crowns leave a dark or gray line next to the gum line.

At Smilebuilderz, we are proud to offer a natural looking alternative - all-ceramic non-metal crowns! With these newer restorations, porcelain crowns, you will notice the “life-like” appearance that mimics natural teeth and does not produce the black gum line so common with so many porcelain-metal crowns.

On back teeth, our cosmetic dentists, at Smilebuilderz in Lancaster PA, use a bonding technology, called porcelain onlays. These are very similar to porcelain crowns, and sometimes you will find that these terms are used interchangeably. Using the term onlay, however, means that we are grinding away less of the tooth - we leave the healthy tooth structure alone as much as possible. Since we can keep the margins away from the gum, we greatly reduce the tendency for gum inflammation that can occur with dental crowns. Our dentists have received special training in cosmetic dentistry in order to place these types of crowns.

Dentists are not generally trained, while in dental school, in the new bonding techniques necessary for the placement of non-metal, porcelain crowns. Therefore, it is important that you have this work done by highly trained cosmetic dentists whom you will find at Smilebuilderz in Lancaster, PA. Give us a call today to arrange a consultation in a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere.