Although the idea of getting dental crowns in Hialeah may cause some patients to feel anxious, installing these caps involves a simple and common procedure that dentists perform every day. Taking a closer look at the dental crown and learning more about this restorative treatment can help patients determine whether or not it’s the right option for them.
.jpg)
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Crowns
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a permanent cap made of metals, porcelain, resin, or ceramics. Moreover, they’re placed on top of a weak, decayed, or severely damaged tooth. The dentist installs them to protect, cover, and restore a tooth’s shape when getting a filling doesn’t solve the issue. It’s worth noting that dental crowns don’t usually require special care other than regular oral hygiene.
When Is a Dental Crown Necessary?
After a Root Canal Treatment
Dental experts highly recommend dental crowns for the molars and premolars following root canal procedures. Besides restoring the tooth’s appearance, the crown protects the weakened tooth from chipping, cracking, or splitting through the roots.
For Cosmetic Purposes
Dentists can also use crowns to close spaces between teeth or treat worn, chipped, heavily discolored, stained, or misshapen teeth.
Deep Tooth Decay and Fractures
A tooth may lose extensive structure on multiple surfaces due to deep decay or fractures. Besides preserving the tooth’s integrity and structure, a dental crown provides maximum protection and significantly prevents tooth loss.
Teeth With Large Fillings
A tooth with a large filling is vulnerable to further damage, such as fractures or cracks. Since a dental crown restores its structure, it provides the tooth with the support it needs to withstand chewing forces.
Enamel Erosion
Consuming acidic foods and beverages can lead to enamel erosion over time. However, medication, excessive vomiting, and acid reflux can also cause the acids to eat away at the tooth enamel. Dentists use dental crowns to restore the aesthetics and function of worn-down teeth.
Bridgework
If you’re missing one or more teeth, your dentist might recommend a fixed dental restoration called a dental bridge. It consists of a false tooth or “pontic” and two anchoring dental crowns or abutments. Moreover, the dental bridge fills in the gap by joining the artificial tooth definitively to the adjacent crowns or implants.
How Can It Strengthen a Tooth?
This artificial replacement restores the missing tooth structure by covering the existing tooth or a dental implant. Furthermore, the dentist permanently cements the crowns to ensure stability. Since this tooth-crown unit brings back the tooth’s aesthetic and function, a dental crown looks and feels like a natural tooth.
Is a Dental Crown Custom-Made?
Since ill-fitting crowns won’t allow functional chewing, speaking, and smiling, you can trust your dentist to create a customized crown to meet your needs. They’ll take impressions of your existing tooth to ensure a good and comfortable fit. Best of all, your crowns will blend well with the rest of your teeth to give you a natural-looking appearance.
Do Dental Crowns Come in Different Materials?
Yes, they do. As mentioned, dental laboratories use different materials to fabricate crowns. For this reason, patients can choose the type of material they want to have in their mouth. Dental crowns can be made from all-resin, all-porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, stainless steel, or all-metal.
All-Resin
While the all-resin dental crown is more affordable than other crown types, they’re more vulnerable to fractures and can wear down over time.
All-Porcelain
All-porcelain crowns, also known as all-ceramic crowns, can produce a more natural-looking color match than any other crown type, whether used for front or back teeth. These metal-free crowns combine superior biocompatibility and high strength. In addition, it’s an excellent option for patients with metal allergies.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal
Besides being a good choice for front or back teeth, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns work well for bridgework. Furthermore, your dentist can match these crowns’ color to your adjacent natural teeth. However, this crown type can wear the opposing teeth over time. Additionally, its porcelain component can chip or break off if you’re not careful with what you eat. Sometimes, the metal portion at the crown’s base can show through as a dark line if your gums recede.
Stainless Steel
Prefabricated stainless steel crowns are ideal for permanent teeth as a temporary measure. They protect the treated teeth or fillings while you wait for their permanent crown replacements.
It’s important to note that dentists sometimes use stainless steel crowns over kids’ primary teeth to protect them from further decay. These crowns come out naturally with the baby teeth to make room for emerging permanent teeth. Since installing stainless steel crowns doesn’t require multiple dental visits, they’re a more cost-effective option than other crown types.
All-Metal
While all-metal crowns typically consist of gold or platinum, some are also made of base-metal alloys, such as nickel-chromium or cobalt-chromium. Metal crowns are known for their strength and durability because they can withstand biting and chewing forces without wearing down, chipping, or breaking.
However, these crowns don’t blend well with your existing teeth. For this reason, they’re ideal for out-of-sight molars. Since aesthetics is an important factor, the use of metal crowns has significantly declined.
Can a Crowned Tooth Develop a Cavity?
Although dental crowns don’t suffer decay, their underlying teeth can. A new cavity may form if you don’t care for your crowned tooth as you care for your natural teeth. If a decaying tooth is left untreated, the crown will no longer fit until it eventually falls off. If you have dental crowns, it’s best to schedule regular appointments with your dentist so they can check for any signs of new cavities. Regular checkups help prevent possible issues that may compromise the tooth underneath your crown.
How Long Can a Crown Last?
Practicing good oral hygiene can make your dental crown last and its underlying tooth healthy. Besides regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash, ensuring bi-annual checkups and professional dental cleanings can help keep your teeth, restorations, and gums in tip-top shape. If you clench or grind your teeth during sleep, it’s best to ask your dentist for a night guard so that you can protect your crown and teeth from excessive pressure.
Considering Dental Crowns in Hialeah?
At Best Dentistry Miami, we’re committed to helping you achieve a healthy and beautiful smile. Contact us today to make an appointment.
