Knowing More About Dental Crowns
Over time your teeth can become damaged due to teeth decay, injuries, or wear and tear effects. If the damage is left untreated, you might have your teeth removed or require invasive dental procedures such as root canal treatments. Therefore, you should seek early treatments from your phoenix dentist.
One of the restorative options the dentist can consider is using a dental crown to treat the damaged teeth. The dental crown resembles your enamel, and your dentist can choose a shade that matches your natural teeth color to enhance smile aesthetics. However, there are several types of dental crowns.
Why Do I Need Dental Crowns?
Your dentist will recommend dental crowns for the following reasons:
- Protecting weak teeth from breaking or keep the parts of a cracked enamel together
- Restore a badly decayed or broken teeth
- Cover teeth that have received a large dental filling
- Hold a dental bridge in place
- Cover your teeth after a root canal treatment
- Covering a severely stained or misshapen teeth
- As a teeth cap for a dental implant
Types of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns can either be permanent or temporary. However, teeth crowns can differ in material. Some of the types of dental crowns include:
Porcelain dental crowns
Porcelain or all-ceramic dental crowns mimic your natural teeth color. Therefore, the dentist would recommend them for your front teeth. However, they might be subject to chipping and cracking.
Metal Crowns
Metal teeth crowns are strong and durable since they are alloys of gold, nickel, palladium, and chromium. However, they don’t resemble your natural teeth color, making them best for teeth at the back of the mouth.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are relatively durable and provide smile aesthetics since the ceramic material mimics your natural teeth color. The porcelain can still chip but are more durable than all-resin dental crowns.
All-resin crowns
Composite resin dental crowns are the cheapest, and your dentist can choose ones that resemble your natural teeth. However, they are not as durable as the other types of dental crowns.
Dental Crown Treatment Procedure
The procedure for getting dental crowns requires three dental visits. The first and second sessions are for preparing the teeth while the third is for placing the permanent crown.
During the first visit, your dentist will assess your teeth to check if you are eligible for dental crowns. The dentist can take digital x-rays to check the extent of the damage as well as the condition of the jaw bone around the teeth.
If you have an infection or at risk of teeth decay, especially if your teeth are cracked, the dentist will recommend a root canal treatment first.
The second session is for preparing the teeth for the dental crown. During this step, the dentist will remove some parts of your damage to allow fitting your dental crown. However, if you are receiving a metal crown, the dentist will only shed small amounts of your teeth, since they are thinner than any other type.
After reshaping the teeth, the dentist takes an impression and sends it to a dental lab for the making to help to make the dental crown. Your dentist will then place a temporary crown as you wait for a permanent one.
The crown can take two weeks to arrive from the dental lab. Therefore, your dentist will schedule another appointment once the crowns arrive. During the procedure, the dentist will remove the temporary dental crown and replace it with a permanent one. Finally, the dentist will check the bite and make necessary adjustments before cementing it into place.
Taking Care of Your Dental Crowns
Your dental crowns improve your smile as well as your oral health. To maintain the results, at should take care of them since they are subject to damage. Below are the ways to take care of your crowns:
- Brush your teeth twice a day using fluoride toothpaste to keep them healthy
- Floss once daily to remove debris between your teeth
- Avoid biting on hard objects to prevent chipping
- Don’t use any tobacco products to prevent staining
- Visit your dentist regularly for dental check-ups and professional cleanings
- If you play contact sports, you can wear a mouthguard to prevent injuries
At Encanto Family Dental Care, we recommend you seek a dentist’s help if you damage your dental crown.