Are you self-conscious about your smile? Often, people are “camera shy”, or they’re afraid to smile because of a missing or damaged tooth that looks abnormal. Even worse, this problem can lead to other dental and physical health issues. Fortunately, a dental crown can help in restoring a bad tooth. Here’s what you need to know about dental crowns, along with our services for people in the Lancaster and Ephrata, Pennsylvania area.
WHAT ARE DENTAL CROWNS?
Put simply, dental crowns are caps used for restoring damaged or missing teeth to their normal size, shape and function. When a dentist places a dental crown on the top of a patient’s damaged tooth, the crown is able to cover and protect the tooth as well as restore the tooth’s shape. Sometimes, fillings fail to fix this problem, so dental crowns are used.
WHY SOME PEOPLE NEED THEM
In addition to restoring fractured or worn teeth, there are other reasons for getting dental crowns. One of the main ones is for protecting weak teeth impacted by decay. A dental implant can help in keeping a weak tooth intact when there are cracked parts. Often people have this dental treatment done because they need a dental implant covered. Others need a dental bridge held in place. Still, others need them because they need a tooth covered that’s severely stained, discolored or misshaped.
TYPES OF MATERIALS USED FOR DENTAL CROWNS
There are several options, regarding the type of material that’s used for dental implants. These include:
- Metal implants include materials such as gold, nickel, palladium and chromium. The most durable choice is metal as it offers the longest lifespan and rarely breaks or chips. What’s more, it only entails removing a small portion of your tooth. The only disadvantage is its metallic color. But it can be a great option for a hidden molar.
- Porcelain or all-ceramic crowns are your best option if you want to match your natural color to a crown. Also, they’re a great choice for people with metal allergies although they’re weaker than porcelain-fused-to metal dental crowns. For a front tooth, an all-ceramic crown is a good choice.
- Porcelain-fused-to metal crowns not only offer a tooth color that looks more natural, but they’re stronger because of the metal that’s underneath the cap of the porcelain crown. A drawback is that they can be more prone to chipping or fracturing. This type of crown is often used for teeth located in the front or back.
- All-resin crowns, which are so-named because they’re constructed from resin, are typically cheaper than other types of crowns. A con is that they tend to wear out soon than other types of crowns and can be easier to fracture.
- Pressed ceramic crowns, which have a porcelain cap, offer the best natural color. Their inner core is hard, so they can last for a long time.
TRADITIONAL VS. ONLAY AND ¾ CROWNS
Traditional crowns cover more of an underlying tooth than onlay crowns and ¾ crowns. In fact, traditional crowns cover all of a tooth. There are some people who have a more solid tooth structure that just need ¾ crowns or onlays.
This approach is more conservative than what’s involved than a traditional crown that provides full coverage. For this option, dentists only remove the area that’s affected and reshape the tooth so that it’s able to receive a crown.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
- Most dental crowns are good from five to 15 years. However, this can depend on the degree of use or wear and teach that a crown undergoes.
- For best results and a long lifespan, be sure to practice good oral hygiene, besides take care of your mouth. For example, don’t grind your teeth, bite your fingernails, chew ice or use your teeth for opening a package.
- Costs of getting a dental crown can depend on the kind of crown that’s used and your location.
Don’t continue to hide your smile. Cosmetic dentistry can change your life. For more information on our wide range of cosmetic and dental services, visit our Smilebuilderz website and contact us today.