What are Dental Crowns: Process, Types, Benefits & Aftercare

What are Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that help restore broken, decayed, or worn teeth. Dentists also use crowns as covers for dental implants and safeguard root canal-treated teeth. Various materials, including metal, resin, and porcelain, help dental crowns stay on your teeth for five to 15 years with proper care.

Why Would You Need a Dental Crown?

Several purposes are served by dental crowns. You may need tooth crowns to:

• Strengthen a weakened tooth.
• Safeguard and support a cracked tooth.
• Restore a worn or broken tooth.
• Secure a dental bridge in place.
• Aesthetically restore a severely stained or discolored tooth.
• Safeguard a root canal-treated tooth
• Cover dental implants.

What is The Procedure to get Dental Crowns?

You will require two appointments with a dentist for dental crown placement:

1) First Visit

• Tooth Preparation: When preparing your tooth for dental crown placement, our dentist in Houston, TX 77006 must remove some natural tooth enamel to make space for your new crown and ensure it will remain securely in place. Your dentist may also use filling materials to fortify some parts of your tooth. When preparing your tooth, the dentist aims to create a durable foundation for your new crown.
• Impressions: Next, your dentist will impression your tooth using a putty-like material or hand-held digital scanner. The images are for the dental laboratory to fabricate your new crown.
• Temporary Crown Placement: the dental lab requires two to three weeks or longer to make your new crown. Meanwhile, the dentist provides a temporary crown over your tooth for protection.

2) Second Visit

When the dental lab fabricates your new crown, they will send it to the dentist, and during your second visit, the dentist will:

• Remove the temporary crown.
• Check the color and fit of the new crown.
• Cement the new dental crown over your with durable dental cement.

What are the Types of Dental Crowns?

There are different dental crowns, and the version that best suits your needs depends on your personal preference and unique dental health needs. The different types of dental crowns are the following:

1) Metal Crowns

Several metals, including gold, palladium, nickel, and chromium, help dental technicians make dental crowns from metal. Metal crowns are incredibly durable because they rarely chip or crack. In addition, they also last the longest because the dentist only needs to remove minimal tooth structure. Metal crowns can also withstand biting and chewing forces, making them suitable for your molars, although the metallic color of the crown is the primary drawback.

2) PFM Crowns

PFM crowns (porcelain fused metal crowns) have the durability of metal and the aesthetics of porcelain. Our dentist near Montrose, TX can match these crowns with the color of your natural teeth. PFM crowns are as durable as metal crowns and suitable for your front and back teeth.

3) Pressed Ceramic Crowns

A hard inner core similar to the crowns made from PFM represents a pressed ceramic crown. When making the inner core, the technician melts and presses the ceramic at a temperature in an oven. Next, multiple layers of porcelain are added to make pressed ceramic crowns mimic the transparency of your natural tooth enamel.

4) All Ceramic or All Porcelain Crowns

Mimicking the appearance of your natural tooth enamel more than any other crown is a feature of all porcelain or all ceramic crowns. There are also suitable if you are allergic to metals. Dental labs use different materials when making these crowns, but the most popular material is zirconium dioxide. Zirconia is the most durable and can withstand extreme forces than other dental crowns. There are also gentle on your opposing teeth because they do not cause enamel wear.

What are the Benefits of Getting Dental Crowns?

The most notable benefit of getting dental crowns is the longevity of your natural tooth. Dental crowns can:

• Restore worn, broken, or decayed teeth.
• Safeguard teeth from enamel erosion.
• Improve chewing functionality.
• Enhance your appearance.
• Remain on your teeth for five to 15 years with appropriate care.

What are the After-Care Tips for Dental Crowns?

When leaving the office of the Houston dentist, they provide after-care tips to care for your dental restoration. They are:

• Brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Floss daily between your teeth.
• Use antibacterial mouthwash to eliminate bacteria and dental plaque from your mouth.
• Refrain from having hard, crunchy, and chewy foods.
• If you grind or clench your teeth, discuss wearing a customized night guard with the Houston dentist for protection.
• Schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings at six-monthly intervals.

Get Dental Crowns Near You

Dental crowns help restore damaged, decayed, and worn teeth. There are different kinds of crowns made from various materials. The dental crown that best suits your needs depends on your budget, personal preferences, and dental health goals. Dental crowns are durable but not invulnerable. They will need replacements at some time later. However, proper dental hygiene and visits to Polish Dentistry can help keep your dental restoration in optimal condition and last for many years.

Are looking to get dental crowns in Houston, TX? Contact Polish Dentistry today to get tooth crowns at 77006!