subject: Introduction To Dental Crowns [print this page] Many cosmetic dental procedures are designed to make drastic changes to your teeth. Porcelain veneers, for example, are designed to completely change the design of your mouth. Dental implants are designed to replace missing teeth. All of these make drastic changes to your smile.
Dental crowns are slightly different. They may be used simply to protect a tooth and provide it with a realistic looking cover. Or they can be far more blatant and used as a fashion statement, such as gold and silver teeth that are easy to notice. Crowns also have a variety of different purposes, including protecting teeth to repairing damage to keeping your teeth from degrading or cracking further.
What is a dental crown?
Dental crowns are a type of cap for individual teeth. They are created to fully protect and cover the visible portion of a tooth of a tooth as well as improve the overall appearance of that tooth. They can be made from metal, porcelain, resin and ceramic, as well as combinations of those materials.
The materials you choose cause the teeth to vary drastically in appearance. Gold crowns are easily recognizable, while porcelain crowns mimic natural tooth color and light, so they provide the appearance of a natural tooth. Your dentist will work with you to discuss which type of crown is right for you.
What are dental crowns for?
Dental crowns have a variety of purposes. They may be used to:
Protect or maintain a weak tooth
Cover an already decayed/weakened tooth
Keep other dental procedures in place
Provide better shape to poorly shaped teeth
Stop fillings from falling out
Dental crowns may also be used as part of a larger smile makeover process in order to provide greater shape or appearance to enhance the smile. Overall, dental crowns have a variety of uses that make them beneficial for men and women across the country.
