Creating Confident Smiles
Dental Crown
Porcelain crowns are custom-made, a tooth-colored cap covering, that encases the entire tooth surface restoring it to its original shape and size, strength, and appearance.
Crowns will fully encase the visible portion of a tooth that is at and above the gum line. Crowns can protect and strengthen a tooth that is weak, restore a broken tooth, cover and support a tooth with a large filling, hold a dental bridge in place, cover a dental implant, or make a cosmetic modification. Crowns can also be used for cosmetic purposes or to cover a dental implant.
Types of Crowns
There are different materials that can be used for permanent crowns. Most common are stainless steel, all metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, all resin, or all ceramic.
Stainless Steel Crowns
Stainless steel crowns are typically used as a temporary measure. This type of crown will temporarily protect the tooth while a permanent crown is being made from another material. Also, stainless steel crowns are commonly used for children to fit over their non-permanent tooth. When the tooth eventually falls out, the crown will fall out with it. Because having a stainless crown put in place requires only a single visit, it is more cost-effective and efficient for a child receiving treatment.
Metal Dental Crowns
Metals used in dental crowns include alloys that have high content of gold or platinum, or base metal alloys. Metal crowns rarely chip or break and last the longest in comparison to other dental crown materials. The high price of gold makes metal crowns a more costly option, which is the main drawback.
Porcelain-Fused-To-Metal Crowns
Porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns can add extra strength to bridges and work well for front and back teeth. This type of crown will remain strong, but the porcelain can wear down over time, exposing the metal parts of the crown.
Resin & Ceramic Crowns
All resin dental crowns are less expensive but wear down over time and can develop fractures more often than porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
All ceramic crowns provide a better color match than any other crown type.
Caring for Dental Crowns
Decay and gum disease can still occur under your crown. Be sure to care for your crowns by treating them as you would your other teeth: brush at least twice a day, floss daily, and rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash.
