healthy smile
A crown is recommended to entirely cover a damaged tooth that is beyond repair using a filling, inlay or onlay.
Crowns are usually placed over damaged, fractured, discolored and root canal treated teeth. A crown restores the strength and stability of a tooth.
Metal restorations are usually only used when a tooth is not visible. Porcelain fused to metal crowns are the most commonly used type, and are aesthetically more pleasing than metal crowns. If you would like to avoid metal crowns, metal free or all-porcelain crowns are available. These have the most natural look, but are slightly less strong and a bit more expensive than the former two types.
Crowns are also used to improve the appearance of the teeth. However, more conservative techniques in cosmetic dentistry, such as veneers, inlays, onlays, bonding and bleaching have replaced some of the instances when crowns were used in the past to achieve aesthetic goals. Crowns are bonded onto the tooth with dental cement.
The treatments
Crowns
When the top of a tooth is lost due to decay, there may be very little for the crown to actually hold onto. To gain retention, a post is placed inside the tooth which forms a peg on top of the tooth and acts as a seat for the crown. Usually a post crown is a better option than having the tooth extracted with a subsequent denture or bridge, but post crowns last shorter than normal crowns.
When a tooth is heavily decayed, it is more likely to fracture and lose considerable tooth substance. The greater risk is that a fracture line may go below the margin of the gum which makes restoration more difficult or near impossible. It is very important to see your dentist regularly to avoid this situation.
Crowns can be made from many materials and are usually made using indirect methods.
Most common types:
Metal
Porcelain fused to metal
Metal-free
Metal restorations are usually only used when a tooth is not visible. Porcelain fused to metal crowns are the most commonly used type, and are aesthetically more pleasing than metal crowns. For those that do not want metal crowns, metal free or all-porcelain crowns are available. These have the most natural look, but are slightly less strong and are a bit more expensive than the former two types.
Bridges
If a tooth needs to be extracted or is already missing, a bridge may be the solution. With a bridge, a lost tooth can be replaced without using a denture or dental implant. However, teeth that are directly next to the bridge must be reduced in size in order for them to accept the bridge structure. If these teeth already had crowns or restorations applied, then this is not a problem, but when these teeth are healthy and whole, these alterations must be deliberated.
The procedures for a crown or a bridge are very similar. Your dentist removes some of your tooth structure. An impression is taken, and the laboratory prepares a custom-made restoration. You will immediately get a temporary crown that protects your prepared tooth. In case the temporary crown falls off, which occurs quite often, contact your dentist immediately.
With bridges or crowns, recovery is quick. It is not unusual for teeth to be sensitive for several days, but if you feel uncomfortable, please contact your dentist as further adjustments might be necessary. With care, crowns and bridges last 5 to 15 years, with some lasting significantly longer. When you have crowns or bridges on your teeth, you need to avoid chewing hard things such as popcorn kernels, nutshells, ice etc. to avoid the risk of breakage. Like crowns, bridges are also being used less often, as dental implants are becoming more and more popular.
Dentures and partials are removable prosthetic devices that can be taken out of your mouth. They are made to replace several teeth at once. They support themselves partly on the gum and underlying bone, and partly on the remaining teeth, provided there are any left.
Appointments
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If you need professional dental assistance or just want to smile with more confidence, don’t hesitate to contact us! Simply leave a message on our website, call us or email us, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. We look forward to seeing you smile!
