subject: Dental Crowns [print this page] Dental Crowns Dental Crowns
A dentist may decide that you need a dental crown, if there is a substantial amount of the tooth is missing. Crowns are also placed on the teeth for cosmetic reasons. It could be to have the tooth appear straighter or too make the shape of the tooth more aesthetically pleasing.
During this procedure the dentist will shape the tooth into a stub in which the crown can fit over. Once your tooth is the proper shape the dentist will take an impression of your teeth. This impression will allow the dentist to make a model to send to the lab. Your crown will be made in a dental lab using this model.
In the mean time the dentist will shape a temporary crown for your tooth. The temporary crown is basally made from a composite material. However, sometimes the temporary crown is made from a special acrylic that is made specifically for dentistry.
When getting a dental crown you may be faced with many different options to choose from. Permanent dental crowns are made from many different materials. These materials are ceramic, metal, porcelain and porcelain fused to metal.
Ceramic or porcelain crowns are not a good choice for back molars, as they are not as strong as some of the other types, the can wear down the surfaces of the opposing teeth and tend to chip or break easily. They do however appear more natural in the mouth and this makes them a great choice for teeth with non-chewing surfaces such as the incisors. Another reason one may have a ceramic or porcelain crown is a metal allergy. In the case a patient being allergic to metal the dentist will probably choose to use a porcelain or ceramic crown regardless of the location of the tooth that is to be crowned.
Metal crowns are made of different types of metal. These include gold alloy as well as a verity of different silver colored alloys. A metal crown can be a good choice, because metal is very durable. It can hold up for many years to the chewing surfaces of teeth. Some people may choose to have silver or gold crowns for cosmetic reasons. There are even cases where the dentist or the lab can mount stones, such as diamonds, rubies and emeralds into the crown. Like jewelry for your teeth!
In most cases the patient and the dentist will choose porcelain fused to metal crown. This is because the porcelain on the outside of the crown tends to blend and match the surrounding teeth well. The metal in these crowns helps to strengthen the porcelain. While these crowns are not as strong as crowns made completely of metal, with proper care they should last many years. One of the negatives to the porcelain fused to metal crowns is that sometimes the underlying metal can show through causing the tooth to appear grayish in color.
Choosing the proper crown is a choice that will need to be made between you and your dentist. There are many different things to take into consideration. Voice your concerns about each option to your dentist and the two of you should be able to come up with a good solution for your crown.
