Types of Dental Crowns, Installation Procedure and the Caring Tips for the Crown

Crown restoration is a common procedure performed by dentists every day. Despite this, most people remain clueless about dental crowns and what they do. Stick around to find out more.

What is a Crown?

A crown is a tooth-shaped cap used to cover a damaged tooth. It is placed over a tooth or an implant with the aim of restoring its strength, size, shape, and appearance.

Once put in place, they act as covers to the underneath part of a tooth offering protection.

Why Go for Crown Restoration?

There are many reasons why patients get their crowns fixed. The most common ones include:

• Carpeting discolored teeth
• Refurbishing a broken tooth
• To firmly grasp a dental bridge in place
• Shielding a weak tooth from breakage
• Covering dental implants

Types of Dental Crowns

Crowns are made from durable and resilient materials. This enables them to withstand chewing traumas, just like the other teeth. Composite resins, porcelain, zirconia, ceramics, and metal alloys are some of the materials used in their manufacture.

When choosing the medium to use for your crown, these factors are considered:

• Your preference
• The location and function of the tooth
• The exposure of the tooth when you smile
• The color of the neighboring teeth
• The locality of the gum tissue

The various types of dental crowns are:

• All – Porcelain Crowns

Its aptness to blend with the teeth makes it preferred when restoring the front teeth. Since they are made purely from porcelain, they come with an added advantage:

• Set to match with your neighboring teeth in color, shape, and size, these crowns will give you the best natural look. They are free from toxins thus are biocompatible.
• To increase the longevity of these crowns, you’ll have to take good care of them because they are not as robust as metal crowns.

• Gold Alloys Crowns

They are made from a combination of copper and various metals like chromium and nickel. Gold crowned teeth are known to be strong and durable. This makes them preferable for posterior restorations.

Pros

• Are long-lasting
• Strong and durable
• Perfect for posterior refurbishment

Con

• Poor aesthetics
• Zirconia Crowns

Zirconium is a new medium that merges the strength of alloy with the aesthetics of ceramic crowns. Translucent and layered zirconia dental crowns are becoming a popular option for patients. This is why:

• Due to their durability, they don’t wear out easily
• Are biocompatible. This means they will less likely trigger allergic reactions
• They put up great aesthetics

Cons

• Adjusting solid zirconia is difficult
• They are more likely to wear out teeth they bite against due to their strength
• Porcelain-Fused to Metal Crowns

This another dental crown that is widely used. Their metallic structure makes them strong and long-lasting.

• Silver Tooth Crowns

Amalgam is the material used to make crowns that have a silvery look. This crown is fit for primary molars in children because of how strong they are. They are, therefore, able to withstand the force of chewing.

Amalgam’s ability to work in a moist environment is also another added advantage when attending to young children. For you to decide on what’s best for your child, make sure you consult with your kid’s dentist.

General Procedure of Crown Installation

At West Humber Dentistry, the installation procedure will take at least two dental visits, and it will vary depending on the type of crowns to be set. Nevertheless, the following series of steps must take course:

Your dental surgeon will examine your tooth to ensure it is strong enough to hold up a crown. If it is extremely damaged, you will receive a filling to enlarge it enough to support the crown.

An impression of your tooth is then taken and sent to the dental laboratory. This ensures the crown has a perfect fit on your tooth. A temporary tooth cap and crown will be put to seal your tooth as you wait for the crown to be made.

During the second visit, the temporary cap is removed, and your permanent crown is positioned and glued in place with the aid of a special adhesive. It will take some time before the crown feels and functions as an ordinary tooth.

Caring Tips for Your Crown

Although crowns can fall out or come loose at times, they can last for a lifetime under proper care and maintenance. The best care you can give to your crowns is maintaining good oral practice.

• Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste at least two times a day. This keeps your teeth and gums healthy.
• Visit your dentist frequently for cleanings and check-ups
• When your crown is new, avoid chewing on hard objects. This safeguards it from damage.