Dental Crowns
Damaged teeth need “caps” to protect them and safeguard their ability to function in a healthy manner; these ‘caps’ are also called ‘dental crowns’. Dental crowns may be fitted on to decayed or damaged teeth, cracked or chipped teeth, or in some cases they may even replace an old cap that has been damaged due to some reason.
This dental cap or crown acts like a sheath that protects a vulnerable tooth or teeth. The cap can be made from materials that suit the patient. There are many treatment options available to dentists today by which teeth can be restored and all these should be considered before choosing a crown that offers full coverage for the damaged tooth.
The clinical procedure to make a crown:
The first thing that a dentist will do when you go in for the crown procedure is to make a molded impression of your teeth as they currently exist. This mold will then be sent to a laboratory. A permanent crown will be made for your damaged tooth or teeth based on this mold. In the interim, during the same visit, the dentist will fit a temporary crown to protect your tooth. Once the new crown is ready, it will be bonded or cemented to your tooth during one of your later visits.
Computers and technology have now evolved to great extent. The new computer-aided design/manufacturing technology commonly referred to as CAD/CAM allows one to display a 3-D image of your teeth. Based on this image, the dentist will create a restoration by milling a ceramic block. If you are lucky enough to find a dentist who has CAD/CAM technology right in his office, then you will not need a temporary crown or even a second visit to have the final procedure done. It can be done on the spot.
Crowns used with Fixed Partial Dentures and Dental Implants
Dental bridges also called fixed partial dentures are another method used to replace missing teeth. One can call them an extension of the dental crown. In this method, the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth/teeth are capped or crowned and they are in turn connected to an artificial reproduction of the missing teeth.
Fixed partial dentures were used before the advent of dental implants. Today the popular choice for replacing missing teeth is dental implants. In the dental implant method of replacing teeth, a replica of the tooth is made with titanium. This is then placed and fused in the jawbone with titanium paste. The part of the tooth replica that is above the gum line is then fitted with a crown.
Dental implants give support to the bite and do away with the requirement for the needless crowning of adjacent teeth and thus they are a popular choice over fixed partial dentures or dental bridges.
Materials used to make Crowns: Gold, Ceramic and Porcelain Crowns.
When you want to choose the material with which you would like to have your tooth/teeth capped, you have a choice of three materials to choose from.
They are as follows:
1. All-ceramic (all-porcelain)
2. Gold
3. Porcelain-fused-to-metal
The final selection of the material will depend upon the strength requirements, the aesthetic and clinical demands, the space available in the jaw and the durability of the material. Let us look at each one in brief.
All-Ceramic Crowns
When it comes to all-ceramic crowns, you can choose between zirconia, and aluminous materials. These are the leading materials used in all-ceramic crowns. These materials take precedence over any others as they provide an esthetic option that is free of metals and in addition they offer several benefits. An all-ceramic crown does not need any supporting metal core and thus the thickness of the material used can be considerably reduced. This is especially good when the space available in the mouth is very small. Moreover, due to the absence of a metal core, light can be easily transmitted through the porcelain which gives a more lifelike natural effect to the tooth.
The materials used in all-ceramic crowns continue to undergo progress in terms of their sturdiness and strength, nevertheless one should be careful in using these where too much chewing and biting is required. Research is still being done wherein the susceptibility of porcelain in heavy-duty areas of the mouth are being explored.
Gold Crowns
Gold crowns are not a very popular choice as they do not match the color of natural teeth and they stand out instead of blending in. Nevertheless, there are still situations where one might choose a gold crown.
For instance people who have a habit of clenching their teeth under stress, or grinding their teeth in the sleep, or those that have a strong bite or chew excessively hard might benefit with a gold crown as it provides a stronger support to the healthy teeth as compared to ceramic crowns.
Gold crowns are very suitable for molars where there is heavy chewing as the material is not very rough or harsh to the opposing tooth, thus that tooth remains healthy for a longer time. Additionally, gold crowns need less time for preparation.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns
Porcelain fused to metal crowns offer a long lasting, strong and better looking option for capping teeth.
The success of this type of crown depends upon proper preparation of the basic tooth structure in such a way that there is enough space for allowing the thickness of the material being used to cap the tooth. The skill of the person making the crown will add to its visual beauty and how it will blend in with your other teeth.
One of the drawbacks in this porcelain-fused-to-metal crown is that over a period of time, the gum line may recede and thus expose the gold margin. A number of patients choose this type of crown, and later choose to replace the crown in order to maintain better visual appeal. Choosing a Porcelain-fused-to-metal crown with an all porcelain collar can get rid of this minus point.
This dental cap or crown acts like a sheath that protects a vulnerable tooth or teeth. The cap can be made from materials that suit the patient. There are many treatment options available to dentists today by which teeth can be restored and all these should be considered before choosing a crown that offers full coverage for the damaged tooth.
The clinical procedure to make a crown:
The first thing that a dentist will do when you go in for the crown procedure is to make a molded impression of your teeth as they currently exist. This mold will then be sent to a laboratory. A permanent crown will be made for your damaged tooth or teeth based on this mold. In the interim, during the same visit, the dentist will fit a temporary crown to protect your tooth. Once the new crown is ready, it will be bonded or cemented to your tooth during one of your later visits.
Computers and technology have now evolved to great extent. The new computer-aided design/manufacturing technology commonly referred to as CAD/CAM allows one to display a 3-D image of your teeth. Based on this image, the dentist will create a restoration by milling a ceramic block. If you are lucky enough to find a dentist who has CAD/CAM technology right in his office, then you will not need a temporary crown or even a second visit to have the final procedure done. It can be done on the spot.
Crowns used with Fixed Partial Dentures and Dental Implants
Dental bridges also called fixed partial dentures are another method used to replace missing teeth. One can call them an extension of the dental crown. In this method, the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth/teeth are capped or crowned and they are in turn connected to an artificial reproduction of the missing teeth.
Fixed partial dentures were used before the advent of dental implants. Today the popular choice for replacing missing teeth is dental implants. In the dental implant method of replacing teeth, a replica of the tooth is made with titanium. This is then placed and fused in the jawbone with titanium paste. The part of the tooth replica that is above the gum line is then fitted with a crown.
Dental implants give support to the bite and do away with the requirement for the needless crowning of adjacent teeth and thus they are a popular choice over fixed partial dentures or dental bridges.
Materials used to make Crowns: Gold, Ceramic and Porcelain Crowns.
When you want to choose the material with which you would like to have your tooth/teeth capped, you have a choice of three materials to choose from.
They are as follows:
1. All-ceramic (all-porcelain)
2. Gold
3. Porcelain-fused-to-metal
The final selection of the material will depend upon the strength requirements, the aesthetic and clinical demands, the space available in the jaw and the durability of the material. Let us look at each one in brief.
All-Ceramic Crowns
When it comes to all-ceramic crowns, you can choose between zirconia, and aluminous materials. These are the leading materials used in all-ceramic crowns. These materials take precedence over any others as they provide an esthetic option that is free of metals and in addition they offer several benefits. An all-ceramic crown does not need any supporting metal core and thus the thickness of the material used can be considerably reduced. This is especially good when the space available in the mouth is very small. Moreover, due to the absence of a metal core, light can be easily transmitted through the porcelain which gives a more lifelike natural effect to the tooth.
The materials used in all-ceramic crowns continue to undergo progress in terms of their sturdiness and strength, nevertheless one should be careful in using these where too much chewing and biting is required. Research is still being done wherein the susceptibility of porcelain in heavy-duty areas of the mouth are being explored.
Gold Crowns
Gold crowns are not a very popular choice as they do not match the color of natural teeth and they stand out instead of blending in. Nevertheless, there are still situations where one might choose a gold crown.
For instance people who have a habit of clenching their teeth under stress, or grinding their teeth in the sleep, or those that have a strong bite or chew excessively hard might benefit with a gold crown as it provides a stronger support to the healthy teeth as compared to ceramic crowns.
Gold crowns are very suitable for molars where there is heavy chewing as the material is not very rough or harsh to the opposing tooth, thus that tooth remains healthy for a longer time. Additionally, gold crowns need less time for preparation.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns
Porcelain fused to metal crowns offer a long lasting, strong and better looking option for capping teeth.
The success of this type of crown depends upon proper preparation of the basic tooth structure in such a way that there is enough space for allowing the thickness of the material being used to cap the tooth. The skill of the person making the crown will add to its visual beauty and how it will blend in with your other teeth.
One of the drawbacks in this porcelain-fused-to-metal crown is that over a period of time, the gum line may recede and thus expose the gold margin. A number of patients choose this type of crown, and later choose to replace the crown in order to maintain better visual appeal. Choosing a Porcelain-fused-to-metal crown with an all porcelain collar can get rid of this minus point.
Above article from dentalhealthsite.com
Cosmetic Dentist Lafayette Louisiana
Dr. Samuel R. Moss, DDS & Associates
Tel: 337-232-9937
217 E. Kaliste Saloom Road, Suite 100, Lafayette LA 70508
Dr. Samuel R. Moss, DDS & Associates
Tel: 337-232-9937
217 E. Kaliste Saloom Road, Suite 100, Lafayette LA 70508
