Types of Dental Crowns
Rochester, NY
 A crown is a cap that fits over a tooth to protect it from damage. Crowns are often used for restorative reasons, as they are placed on teeth that have been affected by severe decay, or teeth that have cracked or chipped. However, dental crowns can also be used for cosmetic reasons, to hide a stain, or blemish, on the tooth.
Dental Prosthodontics of Rochester offer crowns in a number of different materials, and we want to help you choose the best crown for your mouth.
Why Do We Need Dental Crowns?
A dental crown may be needed to protect weak teeth from breaking or holding onto parts of a crooked tooth. It could also be used to hold a dental bridge in place, cover a dental implant, or make particular cosmetic modifications. In root canal treatments, the crown usually protects the restored tooth and even restores discoloration to improve your smile.
For babies' primary teeth, a crown may be used for protecting early on-set tooth decay, especially when a child has difficulty in following a dental routine. It is also used to decrease the frequency of anesthesia for children who are unable to cooperate, due to age or behavioral factors, with the prerequisites of dental care.
Procedure
If you have a tooth that has become structurally weak due to infection, physical damage (such as from teeth grinding or a contact sport), or a root canal surgery, our dentist may advise the placing of a crown. Alternatively, you can ask about the possibility of a crown, if you dislike the look or shape of one of your teeth. Our dentist will be able to advise you on the best cosmetic procedures for your teeth.
A crown usually takes two appointments. Our dentist will first x-ray the mouth to check the tooth and the surrounding tissue for any damage or infections. If there are any other underlying problems, we may need to sort them out before you have a dental crown placed.
Then, our dentist will file down and shape the tooth into a small nub. This ensures that any decayed or weak parts of the enamel are gone, and a secure base is ready for a crown. Then our dentist will take a mold of your teeth, and send it to a dental lab. There, we will make a custom-fit crown that will fit snugly in your mouth. Until your next appointment, our dentist will fit a temporary crown.
In the second appointment, the temporary crown will be removed, and the custom-fit crown will be attached. The crown will be checked to ensure it is the correct color and shape for your mouth.
We offer a range of dental crowns that each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Our dentists will be able to help you decide the crown best suited for your mouth.
Metal Crowns
Metal crowns are alloys that include platinum or gold, and are usually a silver color, although they do come in a gold color. They are very strong and usually last the longest time of all the different crowns. Very rarely will a metal crown chip or break unexpectedly. Due to their color, however, they are easily seen, and may be more suited at the back of the mouth.
All Resin and All Porcelain Crowns
All-resin and all-porcelain crowns are a more inconspicuous type of crown, as they very closely match the color and the look of a tooth. A person will be unable to detect this type of crown unless actively looking. All-resin and all-porcelain crowns are more likely to chip or crack compared to metal crowns.
Porcelain Fused to Metal Crowns
Porcelain fused to metal is less likely to chip or crack compared to the all-resin and all-porcelain crown, but does not match the strength of the metal crown. They are reasonably inconspicuous, although the metal appears as a silver strip at the bottom of the crown.
Veneers vs Dental Crowns
Veneers are thin, shell-like composite resins that cover the front of teeth, mainly used for cosmetic reasons. Veneers, like crowns, can be used to hide discolorations, stains, chips and cracks. While crowns are most commonly used on the back teeth, veneers are most often used on teeth at the front of the mouth, to hide blemishes that can be seen by other people.
Veneers have many benefits and can help boost a patient's confidence in their smile. Veneers can cover large gaps between teeth, or cover misaligned teeth, making them an easier alternative than braces or a retainer. Veneers can also help protect teeth that have been ground down or eroded. Chewing on hard objects, or drinking sugary drinks, can damage a tooth's enamel permanently. Veneers can reinforce a tooth that has become damaged.
The placing of the veneer will take two appointments. In the first one, our dentist will prepare your tooth by roughening and trimming the surface of the tooth's enamel. This will allow the veneer to be placed firmly onto the tooth. The dentist will then take a mold of your teeth, and send it to a dental lab. The dental lab will be able to create a custom-fitting veneer that will match your teeth perfectly.
Veneers usually take one to two weeks to be made. At your second appointment, our dentist will check the veneers and ensure they are the correct shade and shape for your mouth. They will clean the teeth receiving the veneers and apply a special liquid that allows the veneer to bond with the enamel of the tooth. They will place each veneer onto the teeth, and place an ultraviolet light over your mouth, to set the veneers in place.
Dental Prosthodontics of Rochester offers veneers for a range of different circumstances, and can accommodate your cosmetic needs. We also can help you choose the best dental crown for your mouth. To book a check-up, and so we can help with your smile, call us now at (585) 673-7702. |
