Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are used by Dr. Jackson A. Bean when a traditional dental filling is not enough to repair dental decay in a tooth. This helps preserve as much of the natural tooth as possible. For more information about dental crowns in Greenville, Texas, or to schedule a visit with our dentist, contact Complete Dental Care today at 903-568-3732.
Over the years, your teeth can become damaged: tooth decay, injuries, over use. Teeth can lose their shape or size over time.
Your smile may benefit from a crown if a tooth is damaged or decayed to the point that a dental filling will not provide a successful restoration.
Dental crowns (also known as caps) is a restoration procedure that includes tooth-shaped “caps” that are placed over your teeth that can be used for many reasons. Dental crowns can be made out of metals, porcelain, zirconia, resin or ceramics.
Porcelain crowns are popular because they match the natural color and appearance of your teeth. Our dentist will help you determine which type of dental crown is right for your smile.
One of the most common uses of dental crowns is to restore the tooth that is significantly damaged or decayed. They are used to protect, cover and restore the shape of your tooth when fillings won’t solve the problem.
They typically don’t require special care over time other than regular good oral hygiene.
The crown is custom made to fit over the entire tooth, starting at the gumline, in order to restore the tooth to its original shape and size.
The dental crown is cemented into place on your tooth.
Contact us!
Is a crown right for me?
Crowns can also be used for a number of other restorative and aesthetic purposes, including to:
- Protect a tooth following root canal treatment
- Anchor and attach a dental bridge
- Cover and complete a dental implant
- Enhance the beauty of your smile
- Improve a misshapen tooth
- Strengthen a tooth that is fractured or weak
- Support a large filling when little natural tooth structure remains
Onlays and ¾ crowns:
Traditional crowns cover your entire tooth. Onlays and ¾ crowns won’t cover as much of your actual tooth. This may be appropriate when your natural tooth still has solid structure. It can be considered a more conservative approach. This procedure involves removing only the affected area and reshaping the tooth to place the crown.
Crown Materials:
- Metal | Metals such as gold, palladium, nickel and chromium. Metal crowns last longer in terms of wearing down, they rarely chip or break. They can withstand biting and chewing. Metal crowns do not provide a natural look and therefore are used more for out-of-sight molars.
- Porcelain fused to metal | This type of crown allows for a more natural look since it can be matched to the color of the teeth next to it. There are chances metal shows through the porcelain. The porcelain part of the crown does have a higher chance of chipping or breaking.
- All-resin | These crowns are generally less expensive but there are reasons. They have a higher tendency to wear down over time and more likely to break than porcelain fused to metal crowns.
- All-ceramic or all-porcelain | Either of these provide the best natural color match compared to the other types of crowns. There are also a great choice if you have an allergy to metal. These are not going to be as strong as porcelain fused to metal. They can also wear down the opposite teeth more than metal or resin.
- Pressed ceramic | These have a hard inner core. Pressed ceramic crowns are capped with porcelain and replace the metal liner found in all-ceramic making process. They tend to be longer lasting than all-porcelain.
How long do dental crowns last?
On average, you can expect your dental crown/s to last 15 years. If you take extreme care of your crown, it could last up to 25 years.
Tips to extend the life of your dental crown:
- Don’t clinch or grind your teeth
- Good hygiene routines (brush twice a day, floss once a day)
- Don’t bite your fingernails or chew on ice, hard candy or other hard objects.
- Complete your regular dental cleanings and checkup appointments.
To find out whether a dental crown is right for you, we welcome you to contact us today!
References:
Dental Crowns: What Are They, Types, Procedure & Care. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/10923-dental-crowns
Larson, J. (2019, October 31). Everything You Need to Know About Getting a Dental Crown. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/find-care/articles/dentists/dental-crown
Lewis, D. G. (2019, June 18). How Long Do Dental Crowns Last. Love That Smile. https://lovethatsmile.com/dental-articles/how-long-do-dental-crowns-last
