There are several ways to restore a destroyed tooth, one of the most popular is to place crown on a tooth. Crowns are dental structures in the form of so called “cap”, allowing to restore the size and shape of the tooth, as well as the chewing function which was lost due to its destruction. Unlike all known fillings, which fill only a part of the tooth during restoration, the crowns cover the entire visible part of the tooth, becoming, in fact, its new surface.
When is a dental crown needed?
The causes of the tooth restoration with the help of a crown can be:
- protection of weak tooth (for example, carious one) from further destruction;
- joining several parts of a cracked tooth;
- restoration of already broken tooth or that which has been severely worn down;
- fixation of the dental bridge;
- covering the tooth with a different color of the enamel;
- covering and supporting a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t a lot of tooth left;
- covering of the dental implant;
- aesthetic modification.
What types of crowns are available?
Modern dental crowns differ according to two criteria: the duration of wearing and the material which is used for manufacturing. Depending on the duration of wearing, crowns can be temporary and permanent. Temporary crown is a short-term solution, and worn until the permanent crown is manufactured. Permanent crowns can serve for 5-15 years and can be made from a wide range of materials.
What materials are the most popular for dental crowns?
Depending on material from which crown is made, it can be attributed to one of the following types: metaloceramics, ceramic, metal. When choosing this or that kind of crown, one should take into account the individual clinical indications of each patient, his wishes, aesthetic expectations and, of course, the cost of such a crown.
Plastic. This material is used to make exceptionally temporary crowns. The main advantages of this crown are the ease of material, affordable price and fast production time.
Metals. For this kinds of crowns are used alloys that have a high content of gold or platinum, or base-metal alloys (for example, cobalt- chromium and nickel-chromium alloys). Such crowns are distinguished by their high strength and durability, they withstand biting and chewing forces well and probably last the longest in terms of wear down. In addition, such crowns can have either a metallic shade or a ceramic coating.
Metalloceramics. Metal ceramic dental crowns are in great demand today. They are represented by a structure made of a heavy-duty metal frame covered with a very thin ceramic layer. Advantages of this kind are strength and natural appearance.
Ceramics. These are the most expensive crowns, creating the most aesthetic appearance. In addition to the fact that ceramics are constructed with the same color and transparency as natural teeth, this material is the most biocompatible with the human body. Ceramic crowns do not have metal impurities, and therefore it is an ideal solution for prosthetics in the smile zone.
All-resin dental crowns are less expensive than other crown types. However, they wear down over time and are more prone to fractures.
How long dental crowns can serve?
On average, dental crowns last from 5 to 15 years. The life span of a crown depends on the amount of “wear and tear”, how well you keep the good oral hygiene, and your personal mouth-related habits (you should avoid such habits as chewing ice or solid product, biting fingernails, and using your teeth to open packaging).
Dentists of Dental Lemiers clinic have a great experience in the field of crowns selection and their placement. Make an appointment with the help of our online form and we will be glad to solve your problem!