A brilliant smile is like a crown of beauty, but what happens when a tooth is so severely damaged that it seems all hope is lost? Enter dental crowns, a technology that offers a ray of hope for those with failing teeth.
This article will explore the various types of dental crowns, the benefits they offer, how they are installed, and how to care for them, as well as alternatives to dental crowns.
What are Dental Crowns?
A dental crown is an artificial covering for a damaged tooth that restores its shape, size, and strength. It is a permanent cap-like restoration that fits over a natural tooth, a decayed tooth, or a tooth that has undergone a root canal.
There are many types of crowns available, such as ceramic crowns, porcelain crowns, and metal crowns, and the type of crown chosen will depend on the location of the tooth, the extent of the damage, and the patient’s desires.
Ceramic crowns are typically used for front teeth, while metal crowns are usually used for back teeth. Porcelain crowns can be made to match the natural tooth colour and are often used for both front and back teeth. Metal crowns are the strongest and most durable crowns, making them a great choice for severely damaged teeth.
Regardless of the type of crown chosen, they all have the same purpose of restoring the shape, size, and strength of the damaged tooth.
Types of Dental Crowns
Dental restorations, such as ceramic, metal, and resin-based crowns, are used to repair damaged teeth. The dental crown procedure begins when the dentist prepares the damaged teeth, removes the decay, and reshapes them to accommodate the crown. The dentist will then take an impression of the prepared teeth to make an exact fit of the crown. Depending on the type of crown, the dentist may choose stainless steel, all-ceramic, zirconia, resin, or same-day crowns.
Stainless steel crowns are typically used for children as a temporary restoration, while all-ceramic crowns offer a more natural-looking appearance. Zirconia crowns are strong, durable, and highly resistant to wear. Resin crowns are less expensive and are often used for front teeth. Finally, same-day crowns are created with a computer-aided design and manufactured with a milling machine in a single visit.
The dental crown procedure is also often used with root canal therapy to restore severely damaged or infected teeth. With proper care, dental crowns can last for many years and help to restore the natural beauty of the smile.
Benefits of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns provide a range of benefits, including improved aesthetics, strength, and longevity for damaged teeth. Crowns are often used to restore teeth damaged by root canal treatment, fractures, cavities, and wear and tear. Dental crowns can also be used in combination with other dental treatments, such as dental bridges or composite resin restorations.
A dental crown is a restoration that covers an entire tooth, providing a layer of protection and restoring the natural shape, colour, and strength of the tooth. A digital impression of the patient’s teeth is used to create the crown, which is then placed over the existing tooth. Crowns can be a permanent or temporary measure, depending on the patient’s dental care needs.
The benefits of dental crowns include:
1. Improved aesthetics
2. Increased strength and stability
3. Longer-lasting dental restorations
Dental crowns offer many advantages for improving the look and feel of damaged teeth. They provide a secure, long-term solution for replacing or restoring teeth that have been damaged through trauma, wear and tear, or dental treatments. With proper care and maintenance, crowns can last for many years, providing a lasting solution to dental problems.
How Are Dental Crowns Installed?
Installing a dental crown typically requires two visits to the dentist. During the first visit, the dentist prepares the tooth and takes an impression using a digital scanner so that a custom crown can be made. The tooth is then shaped to fit the crown, and a temporary crown is placed on it to protect the tooth until the second visit.
At the second visit, the dentist will check the fit of the crown and make sure it is properly secured with dental cement. The dentist will then provide the patient with instructions on how to properly care for the crown, such as avoiding hard and sticky foods and regularly visiting the dentist for checkups.
If the crown starts to become loose, it is important to visit the dentist as soon as possible to prevent the risk of infection or discoloured teeth. In some cases, the dentist may suggest installing a dental implant to secure the crown if the patient is not able to have a custom crown made.
With proper care, a dental crown can help save severely damaged teeth and restore the patient’s dental health.
How to Care for Your Dental Crowns
Proper care of dental crowns is essential to ensure their longevity and effectiveness. Temporary crowns should be removed as soon as the permanent crown is put in place.
Weak teeth should be monitored and checked for signs of gum disease. The chewing surface of the crown should be properly cleaned and flossed to prevent damage to the adjacent teeth. Discoloured teeth can be kept clean and polished with special care.
Tooth crowns, such as porcelain crowns, should be brushed and flossed as if they were natural tooth structures. Special care should be taken with porcelain crowns to avoid cracking or chipping, as well as staining or discolouration.
With proper care, dental crowns can last for many years and help maintain the natural tooth structure.
Alternatives to Dental Crowns
Other alternatives to dental crowns are available for restoring weakened teeth.
- Dental Veneers: Dental veneers are thin, custom-made shells that are bonded to the front of teeth to improve their appearance. They can be used to mask chips, discolouration, and other imperfections.
- Dental Bonding: Dental bonding is a process in which a tooth-coloured, composite resin material is applied to the tooth and hardened with a special light. The material is then trimmed and shaped to match the surrounding teeth.
- Dental Inlays and Onlays: Dental inlays and onlays are custom-made pieces of porcelain or composite resin that are bonded to the tooth to restore areas with mild to moderate tooth decay or damage.
- Dental Fillings: Dental fillings are the most common type of restoration used to repair cavities and other small areas of damage. The dentist will remove the damaged area of the tooth and then fill the area with a composite material.
- Dental Bridges: Dental bridges are fixed, false teeth that are used to replace one or more missing teeth. The bridges are held in place by the surrounding teeth or dental implants.
In some cases, no alternatives to dental crowns are necessary; instead, natural enamel can be restored to its former strength and beauty.
Overall, the decision of which option to choose ultimately comes down to the individual’s needs and preferences. With careful consideration, the right solution can be found to restore weakened teeth and keep them in good condition.
Key Takeaways
The use of dental crowns can be a veritable life-saver for those with severely damaged teeth. Not only do they provide a strong, protective layer that can help restore the appearance of the tooth, but they also help to prevent further damage.
Crowns are typically made of either metal, porcelain, or a combination of the two and can be customised to match the natural colour of the teeth. While care must be taken to ensure the longevity of the crown, this is a small price to pay for regaining the smile of one’s youth, in a manner of speaking.
All in all, dental crowns are a reliable, safe and cost-effective way to restore a damaged tooth.
If you’re looking for a reliable and cost-effective way to restore a damaged tooth, then SmileWorks Dental Kensington is the place to go. Our experienced dentists in Kensington, VIC, can provide you with customised dental crowns that will not only help restore the appearance of your tooth but protect it from further damage. So, don’t wait any longer and take the first step towards a healthier and brighter smile.
Dr Ayesha Aijaz, a dentist in Kensington, is the Director and Founder of SmileWorks. With over 20 years of experience, she excels in cosmetic dentistry, early intervention for children, and educating parents. Passionate about charity work, she is dedicated to creating beautiful, healthy smiles for Melbourne families.