Dental crowns are a permanent restoration for the weak, worn-down, broken, or decayed tooth. They are also used to cover root-canaled-treated teeth and dental implants. A small amount of enamel should be removed before attaching the new crown to its place to make sure that it fits properly.
Even though dental crowns can bring about an aesthetic smile by restoring unhealthy teeth, it has both pros and cons. We provided you with a chart to see both aspects of dental crowns.
Best materials for dental implants
Dental implants can be made from various materials including
| Advantages of Dental Crowns | Disadvantages of Dental Crowns |
|---|---|
| Prevents erosion in the teeth | Possible nerve damage |
| Lasts for a long time | Might require to be replaced |
| Improved function of chewing and speaking | Sensitivity in teeth |
| Protects a damaged or weak tooth | Causes decay by trapping bacteria |
| Pain relief | Allergic reaction |
| Improved appearance | Breakable |
What Are Dental Crowns Made Of?
Dental crowns can be made of several types of materials such as metal, porcelain, and resin.
How Dental Crowns are Made?
Dental crowns are made by dentists. They create the dental crowns according to the shape of the prepared tooth. After being made from the materials mentioned before, they are polished and tinted to fit with the other teeth.
What Do Dental Crowns Look Like?
Dental crowns look like hollow, tooth-shaped caps. Their main purpose is to cover a prepared natural tooth.
Types of dental crowns
Multiple kinds of dental crowns are as follows:
Metal crowns: Various kinds of metals such as nickel, chromium, and palladium can be used to make dental crowns. They are advantageous in terms of not breaking or chipping.
Gold crowns: Besides the other metals, gold dental crowns are special for their durability and strength.
Pressed ceramic crowns: Resembling the translucency of a natural tooth is the main specialty of these dental crown types.
Zirconia dental crowns: Zirconium combines the aesthetics of porcelain that matches with the natural teeth and the durability of the metal.
All-resin crown: Resin is fragile but chosen for its affordability.
All-ceramic or porcelain crowns: These dental crowns are known for their similar appearance to a tooth.
Same-day Dental Crowns: These crowns are made with CAD/CAM and can be given to the patient within a single appointment.
You can determine which kind of dental crown is suitable for you by discussing it with your dental care provider.
When are dental crowns needed?
Dental crowns might be necessary for:
- Keeping a dental bridge steady
- Cracked tooth support and protection
- Covering a root-canal-treated tooth or a dental implant
- Restoration of a broken tooth
- Covering a discolored tooth
- Replacing a large filling
- Strengthening a weak tooth
- Achieving an aesthetic smile
You can consult your dentist whether you need a dental crown or not. However, if you have symptoms that include discomfort in your teeth, don’t forget to go see your dentist.
Before the dental crown procedure
Before the procedure, the dentist has to consider factors to choose which material to use for the crown. These factors might include:
- position of the gum tissue
- remained number of natural teeth
- location of the tooth
- surrounding teeth’s color
- what purpose the crown will serve for
After these factors are considered, what type of dental crown suits the patient the best will be determined, and the procedure will begin.
Dental crowns procedure
A dental crown procedure might take several days.
Typically, on the first day, some of the natural enamel is removed to create space for the crown. Then the dentist will take impressions of the dental to create a custom crown. After that, the making of new crowns takes up to 3 weeks. The dentist gives the patients temporary crowns while waiting until the final day.
On the second appointment, the patients will be able to get their finished dental crowns and bond them to their teeth.
However, if the patients will get a same-day dental crown, it will only take one appointment. In this appointment, the dentist will take pictures of the patient’s mouth to use digital scans of these photos for creating crowns. This procedure takes up to 2 hours. After the crowns are done, the dentist will cement it into the mouth, and this operation is about 2-4 hours.
Dental Crown care
After getting their dental crowns done, patients should care about their crowns if they wish to make them last long. Some of the useful tips for protecting your dental implants are:
- Regular and careful teeth brushing
- Avoiding clenching the teeth at night
- Not chewing hard things like ice
- Daily floss
- Not consuming food like popcorn or super sticky foods such as caramels
Are dental crowns worth it?
Dental crowns have several advantages to them including an aesthetic smile and a healthy pair of teeth. However, you can determine whether dental crowns are worth it by looking at what dental crowns before and after pictures look like.
Are dental crowns the right option?
Choosing between other dental procedures and dental crowns might create some questions in patients’ minds. We provided you with some comparisons to determine which one is the right option for you.
Dental Crowns vs. Veneers
Veneers are used for covering the cracks, discoloration, and chips. It is usually used for aesthetic concerns. On the other hand, crowns’ main purpose is to improve teeth health by restoring them as well as improving their appearance.
On the other hand, dental veneers bond to the teeth while dental crowns are caps covering the teeth.
Dental Crowns vs. Caps
Dental crowns and caps are actually the same things called differently.
Dental Crowns vs. Implants
Both of these procedures aim to replace a missing tooth. However, a dental implant is an attachment of a brand new tooth to the jawbone while a dental crown utilizes the natural tooth as a support.
Dental Crowns vs. Fillings
The main difference between dental fillings and crowns is that crowns are used for severely damaged teeth while fillings are used to treat minor tooth damage.
