Dental CrownDental crowns, or “caps,” are placed over a tooth for both aesthetic and functional purposes. These are used in response to tooth damage or discoloration, as well as in support of dental bridges or dentures. There are a few different types of crowns and materials that can be used depending on your specific needs. Our dentist at Southern Family Dental Care can give you information on each of your options and help you decide which is the best for you. Materials UsedWe use five main types of dental crown materials at our office. These include porcelain fused with precious metal, just porcelain, ceramic, glass, and gold-alloy. Porcelain fused with precious metal is the most common type of crown. These include base metals, titanium, and gold. They are incredibly strong thanks to the metal base, but aesthetically pleasing thanks to the porcelain laid over the metal. Porcelain crowns are less durable but have a very natural look about them. Normal crowns made out of materials like ceramic are quite strong and have an appearance similar to that of porcelain. Glass crowns are fragile compared to others but have a natural look. Gold-alloy has either a gold or silver color, but it is among the most durable materials available. Crown ProcedureBefore we can make your crown, our dentist will first need to prepare your tooth. This involves repairing any damage and removing any decayed material. After this is complete, our dentist will file your tooth into a shape that is suitable for crown placement. This leaves the inner core of the tooth intact. Once the tooth is ready, our dentist will get a dental impression of the tooth needing the crown as well as the opposing tooth. This lets our lab develop a crown in a way that the bite matches perfectly. Our dentist will also make a note of the specific shade needed so that it matches your natural tooth color. We will contact you when your crown arrives at our office. During the placement procedure, our dentist will check that it fits well and looks natural with your other teeth. Our dentist will use dental cement or another type of adhesive to form a seal. A local anesthetic is used if needed. Crowns generally take at least two visits to complete. The first visit is when your tooth is treated initially and the dental mold is made. At the first visit, our dentist will likely place a temporary crown to provide function until your permanent crown is complete. At times, we may also need to place a post in the root of the tooth to provide stability. This is custom-made for your tooth and placed using dental cement. In some cases, we may be able to rebuild the tooth using a filling material, meaning we would not need to use a post. Crown CareYou will need to treat your new crown as if it were a natural tooth. This includes brushing and flossing daily as well as receiving routine cleanings at our office. You can also ask our dentist if you have any questions about after-care instructions. To schedule a crown procedure, call Southern Family Dental Care at 470-410-9774 now. |
