What You Need to Know About Dental Crowns
A crown, also known as a cap, is basically an artificial tooth or a cover that protects an entire tooth from further damage or breakage. A crown maybe the only available option that can be used to repair a decayed or badly broken tooth. When you have a badly damaged tooth but it is not completely lost, you can restore its functioning, shape and appearance using a cap.
Why get a crown?
A cap may be the only way to go for a badly broken or decayed tooth. The purpose is to restore structural integrity or functional strength of the tooth that could have been affected by a large filling, decay or a root canal. Another reason for getting a crown is for the aesthetic value i.e. to ensure it blends with the adjacent teeth.
Types of Crowns
Depending on the position of the damaged tooth your dentist may suggest one of the different types of crowns. There various types of crowns including:
- Metal Crowns: Metal caps tend not to look natural and may be made of gold or metal. Despite their superficial look, they last for a long time and they do not easily chip away. Metal crowns do not erode the opposing teeth.
- Composite Crowns: These are natural-looking crowns that have a polished appearance. However, after brushing your teeth a lot, the polish may fade and the cap may stain. Composite crowns don't easily chip away like porcelain however; they wear down much faster due to chewing.
- Ceramic or Porcelain Crowns: These crowns are more brittle than the two mentioned above. For this reason, they are usually placed only on the front teeth.
- Porcelain-Fused Metal Cap: They are stronger than composite or porcelain hence they do not easily chip away. They look natural but metal may show at the base of a thin gum.
How the Procedure is done
The procedure can be done by a professional dentist in just two appointments:
Step 1
The first session involves prepping the tooth for crown placing. A local aesthetic is administered to the tooth area. The tooth is prepped so that the crown can fit snugly. This is done by filing or building up the tooth.
Thereafter, an impression of the prepared tooth and the adjacent teeth is taken. The impression is used to make a model on which the crown is made. A temporary crown that was made before shaping the tooth, is fitted in placed.
Step 2
The temporary crown is detached on the next visit. Then, dental cement is placed in the new crown. Finally, the crown is fixed to the prepped tooth using the dental cement. This restores the tooth to a healthy functioning state.
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