PORCELAIN
CROWNS
All-Porcelain Crowns: If
you ever had the notion that dental crowns look bad and are noticeable,
then you've never noticed a beautifully crafted all-porcelain crown. Compared
to older porcelain fused to metal crowns, all-porcelain crowns have a natural
appearance in terms of color and contours. When done properly, it should
be extremely difficult to distinguish it from a natural tooth. No dark
lines are apparent at the gum line.
Crown restorations are similar
to veneers, because they too are attached to individual teeth. Crowns completely
cover the tooth on all sides, helping to correct any problems that you
might have with alignment. Crowns are used to repair teeth that have undergone
root canals, have severe erosion, or extreme malposition. The use of crowns
is essential in any situation that requires greater strength and aesthetics.
Crowns are fabricated from ceramic or ceramic and metal, and are indistinguishable
from adjacent teeth.
Our office commonly replaces
unsightly crowns with beautiful new porcelain crowns.
CROWNS
When a tooth is cracked,
decayed, or damaged, a crown may need to be fitted onto the tooth. A crown
is a permanent covering that fits over the original tooth. Crowns can be
made of porcelain, gold and other metals, acrylic resin, or an amalgam
(a mix) of these materials. Porcelain crowns typically have the most realistic
appearance, although they tend to be less durable than other materials.
Crowns can whiten, reshape, and realign existing teeth, adding to a healthy
and vibrant smile.
PREPARING
THE TOOTH AND CROWN
During your first visit,
the dentist will numb the tooth to be crowned and remove the decay in or
around it. The tooth is then re-sculpted to provide an easy fit for the
crown. This is a painless process that is performed in the dentist's chair.
An impression of your teeth
is then taken and sent to the dental lab where permanent, custom-made crowns
are created (this usually takes one to two weeks). During this interim
period, temporary crowns made of an acrylic resin are fitted onto the teeth.
APPLYING
THE CROWN
On your next visit, the
dentist removes the temporary crown and fits the permanent crown onto the
teeth. He or she makes sure the crown has the proper look and fit, and
then cements the crown into place.
MAINTAINING
YOUR NEW CROWN
The proper dental hygiene
for normal teeth should be applied to your new crown. Daily brushing and
flossing will help to keep the teeth, gums, and new crown free from the
bacteria that can cause gum disease. Avoid chewing on hard foods such as
ice or pistachios, which, over time, can cause crowns to crack or break.
Given proper care, crowns can last several decades, and may last a lifetime.
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