Dental Crowns – What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are caps that can be used to repair damaged teeth and enhance their appearance. They can help with many common issues including tooth decay, sensitivity, fractured teeth, and infections.
Typically, dental crowns west houston require two appointments to complete the procedure. In the first appointment, the dentist will prepare the tooth and create an impression to be sent to the laboratory for fabrication.
Porcelain
Porcelain crowns provide an aesthetic solution to damaged, broken or decayed teeth. They are crafted to match the color and texture of natural teeth, making them virtually undetectable.
They can also strengthen and restore the function of weakened teeth, which can prevent further damage to healthy teeth or the jawbone. They are more durable than dental bonding or fillings and can last 10-15 years with proper care.
Your dentist will reshape the tooth or dental implant to prepare it for the crown, which is custom-crafted in a specialized lab. During the crown preparation process, your dentist will take precise digital impressions to ensure a custom fit. Once your porcelain crown is complete, your dentist will bond it securely to the prepared tooth or dental implant. Proper oral hygiene and limiting stain-causing foods and beverages can help extend the life of your porcelain crown. Most dental insurance plans cover at least a portion of this procedure.
Zirconia
Zirconia is an extremely strong dental material that offers a natural-looking aesthetic. It can protect severely damaged or decayed molar teeth and prevent fractures and chips. Its strength also allows for the crown to be thinner than those made with metal, which means less healthy tooth tissue is removed.
It is available in a variety of tints and opacities so your cosmetic dentist can match it to your natural teeth. It is also a metal-free option, making it ideal for patients with metal allergies and sensitivities.
Zirconia dental crowns west houston can be fabricated from monolithic or layered blocks using computer-aided design and fabrication technologies. The layered variation is often used for anterior crowns. Monolithic zirconia has a high flexural strength with a tensile strength of 1,100 to 1,200 MPa, which makes it suitable for posterior restorations as well. With a gradient layering process, it achieves chip-proof construction and has excellent marginal integrity. The CAD-CAM technology also improves the shape, fit and translucency of the crown.
Stainless Steel
Dental crowns can protect and restore weakened teeth that are too weak for a filling, but too damaged for a root canal or other dental treatment. They can also hold a bridge in place or cover a dental implant. They are a fixed prosthetic device that can only be removed by a dentist.
Crowns can be made of porcelain, ceramic, porcelain-fused-to-metal, all metal, or resin. The dentist will choose the best material for your situation. Those made of porcelain and ceramic are more stain-resistant than natural teeth, but they are not completely immune to discoloration. Using good oral hygiene and avoiding dark-colored foods and drinks can help them stay looking their best.
Metal dental crowns west houston are usually made of gold or other base-metal alloys like nickel-chromium and cobalt-chromium. They are strong enough for chewing and biting but not very aesthetic, so they’re generally used for back molars. They are more expensive than porcelain crowns and tend to show a black line at the gum when worn, which can be unsightly.
Metal
A dental crown is an ideal solution for a tooth that’s been damaged or severely decayed. They also provide cosmetic benefits, such as filling in a gap or covering a chipped tooth.
They’re made from metallic alloys like gold, platinum or base metals such as cobalt-chromium and nickel-chromium. They’re a good choice for teeth that are weakened by chewing or bruxism because they’re very strong.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are popular because they’re durable and blend in well with natural teeth. They’re also less abrasive than other types of crowns and can be used on front or back teeth.
Composite resin crowns are made from a tooth-colored material and can be used on front teeth. They require the least amount of tooth enamel removal, which is better for healthy teeth. However, they are not as strong as other types of crowns and are more prone to wear down over time. Fortunately, this can be corrected with additional treatment or another crown type.