Are you thinking of getting dental crowns? Dr. Jonathan Ford at Ford Dental Group recommends opting for this treatment if you want to improve the appearance of decayed teeth or boost tooth function.
Types Of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are small caps made to fit on top of your tooth. They are used to restore the damaged and decayed teeth that require support to function properly. Dental crowns can also be used with dental implants to fill in gaps created by missing teeth.
Here are the most common dental crowns:
All-Resin
All-resin dental crowns fall in the most affordable category as they are made from a composite resin and can match the color of your existing teeth.
Resin crowns do not require too much tooth preparation. In fact, these same-day crowns are chosen mainly because of their fuss-free nature. However, they are the weakest dental crowns, making them more vulnerable to long-term damage.
All-Porcelain
Commonly referred to as ceramic crowns, these crowns are made with ceramics, also known as porcelain. The benefits of ceramic crowns are that they are great for individuals who have metal allergies since no metal is used in their production. These crowns are a part of cosmetic dentistry and can be used to improve the color, shape, and size of an individual’s teeth. However, they are not too strong and can wear down the surrounding teeth.
Porcelain Fused to Metal
Also known as PFM crowns, these dental crowns use a metal surface with porcelain on the top. Even though they look like porcelain, they are as strong as metal crowns. Porcelain fused to metal crowns are great for individuals who do not like the look of metal but want the strength. However, keep in mind that these dental crowns can damage the surrounding teeth, and if the gums start to recede, the metal ring will be visible.
Metal
Metal crowns are made from metal and thus look like metal. Copper, platinum, gold, nickel-chromium and cobalt-chromium can be used to make these dental crowns. They are usually used to restore molars as they are strong and do not damage the surrounding teeth. However, the metal can corrode over time.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel dental crowns are used to restore children’s teeth, especially those who have experienced baby root canals or pulp therapy. These dental crowns are not made to last long.
Placing Dental Crowns
Usually, a patient will have to visit the dentist twice to prepare for placing dental crowns. In the first visit, an x-ray of the tooth and surrounding area will be taken. If you have some infection, you may have to undergo a root canal. The tooth will then be filed down to create space for the crown, based on the crown you choose to get. A copy of the tooth will be made and sent to the dental laboratory.
On the second visit, the crown will be fitted on the tooth. Do you want to learn more about dental crowns and understand which crown will be better for you? Call (714) 409-6161 today.
