When Dental Crowns Are Used

Dental crowns are very versatile restorations. This makes them the most commonly sought-after major restoration. They can be used in all these common situations:

• Badly chipped or cracked tooth
• Badly decayed teeth
• Teeth with large fillings that are failing
• Heavily worn teeth
• Protecting a tooth after a root canal
• Topping dental implants
• Similar cosmetic applications as porcelain veneers

Dental crowns are called on whenever a tooth has been badly damaged in one way or another. They fit down over the tooth, giving it an entirely new visible surface, providing protection and support for a damaged tooth. Decay, wear, trauma, and even failing restorations can all weaken teeth and require the use of a crown to repair.

Dental crowns are also used to fill the role of your visible tooth on top of the dental implant root. These highly cosmetic crowns are a big part of the reason why dental implants can look so natural.

And speaking of cosmetic, dental crowns can be used in many cosmetic dentistry applications, too. In fact, they are often used to substitute for porcelain veneers when a tooth to be veneered is also damaged or needs additional structural support.

Understanding Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are sometimes called caps because they cap your natural tooth. They are designed to fit tightly over your natural tooth and tuck under the gum line so that the entire visible surface of your tooth is covered with the crown.

A dental crown procedure begins by evaluating the strength and health of a damaged tooth. If the tooth needs a crown, we will also consider whether it needs root canal therapy, too. The tooth is then prepared to receive the dental crown, which means removing decay and possibly failing restorations. The tooth is also reshaped to fit inside and support the dental crown. Impressions are taken and the dental crown is designed. The impressions and design are sent to the dental lab.

Meanwhile, you are fitted with an attractive and functional temporary crown that you will wear until your permanent crown is ready.

When your permanent crown is ready, we will check it for fit and color match. Then we will bond it to your tooth.

There are three types of dental crowns currently available.

All Metal Crowns

All metal crowns are made completely of metal, as the name implies. These can be functional, and durable, but they are considered unattractive. Metal crowns can be either base metal or noble metal. Base metal crowns are made of steel and other similar types of metal. They’re less expensive, but can lead to reactions in the skin or gums. Noble metal crowns are more expensive, but less likely to cause reactions.

Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM)

In a PFM crown, the metal understructure of the crown is covered with a more attractive ceramic surface. Ideally, this is intended to give the strength of metal with the appearance of porcelain. Sometimes, though, PFM crowns can perform poorly as the porcelain flakes off, revealing the metal below.

All Ceramic Crowns

Ceramic crowns are made completely of advanced ceramic materials. They’re the most attractive dental crowns available. With new innovations in this area, ceramic crowns can be as strong as or stronger than metal ones.

Limitations of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are ideal in many situations, but not every situation calls for a dental crown. The biggest drawback of a dental crown is that it requires the removal of a lot of natural tooth material. Dental crowns can also cover up your tooth so effectively that damage to the tooth is concealed. This can allow decay to progress without being detected. To avoid problems, people need to pay attention to the health of their tooth under dental crowns.

Do You Think You Need a Dental Crown?

Do you have a tooth that’s badly damaged and might need a dental crown in Scripps Ranch? Please call (858) 271-1010 today for an appointment with Dr. Ramin Goshtasbi at Oasis Dental Arts.