| Tooth Crown or Dental Crown (fake tooth,
false tooth, tooth cap, "cap") is
the permanent dental restoration of the teeth using materials that are fabricated by
indirect methods. This dental crown is cemented to your tooth to cap or completely cover
it. |
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| The teeth to be crowned are
prepared in a very specific way
(filing
down the
tooth
to make room for crown) by a dentist.
Records are given to a
dental technician to fabricate the dental crown, which can then be
inserted at another dental appointment. The main advantages of the
indirect method of tooth restoration:
- you do not need to be in
the dental chair
- use of materials that
require intense heat to be processed with superior mechanical
properties, such as gold and natural looking porcelain
- produce a restoration of
much higher quality
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Indication to Restore with a
Tooth Crown
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| When
Tooth Decay is first detected, the usual action taken by the
dentist is to provide a tooth filling or "cavity filling" (intra-coronal restoration)
inside of the remaining tooth structure.
The restoration
consist of a number of materials, including
silver-colored amalgam, tooth-colored resin or gold. Inlay is also intra-coronal restoration.
If there is not enough remaining solid tooth
structure after Tooth Decay, fracture,
chipped or sensitive teeth, it might very well require a tooth
crown or an extra-coronal
restoration.The teeth also need to be protected
by a crown because of Root Canal Therapy. After root canal, the
tooth becomes brittle and more apt to fracture.
If you are receiving the
crown after root-canal treatment, your dentist may
insert a post-and-core foundation. The crowns also provide a
better seal against invading bacteria and germs.
Crowns are also used to improve
the appearance of natural teeth that are malformed, mal-positioned or
discolored (compromised esthetics) to make better your beautiful
smile.
Once placed and properly
integrated into the bone, implants may then be fitted with a dental
crown |
Different Crown Materials
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1. Metal Tooth Crown
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| The strength of a metal crown
is a tremendous advantage. Crowns made of metal, can consist of
different materials: |
- Full gold crowns (FGCs)
referred to as a gold crown. This crown includes gold alloy
with at least 75% high noble metals: gold, platinum, palladium. It
also contains but not limited base metals: silver, copper and tin.
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- Metal alloys crowns
(palladium).
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- Stainless steel or base-metal alloy (nickel or
chromium).
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| BENEFITS: |
- Full gold crowns are of
better quality when they are high in noble content.
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- Metal crowns cause less
wearing away of neighboring teeth than other crowns, and also
require less
filing
down the
teeth
than other crown materials.
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- Metal also tends to last
the longer, resisting breaks and chips better than other materials.
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- They are durable and often
used for less visible teeth.
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| DOWNSIDE: |
- The obvious drawback to
metal crowns is their metallic (non-esthetic) appearance.
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2. Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM)
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| Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM)
crowns consist of a metal core inside and a layer of porcelain outside
blended together. PFM crowns look just like
normal teeth. BENEFITS:
- Unlike purely metal tooth crowns,
shade will be matched to the color of
existing teeth.
- Porcelain provides the most
natural final appearance of any other dental crown material.
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- PFM crowns can be used on
both the hidden and prominent teeth.
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- PFM crowns are of
better quality when they are high in noble metal inside.
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- They are durable and have
enough the strength.
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| DOWNSIDE: |
- Porcelain can wear away at
neighboring teeth.
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- More vulnerable to chipping
and breaking than metal.
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- Porcelain's translucence
sometimes allow the inside metal core to show through.
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- There is more a problem at
the crown-gum line, especially if the gums recede over time.
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3. Metal-Free
Tooth Crown
or All Ceramic Restorations
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| Dental crowns made complete of
porcelain or ceramic result in
the most natural final appearance. |
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| MATERIALS: |
-
Vitadur Alpha - In-ceram - Procera - Empress - CEREC
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| BENEFITS: |
- All-ceramic crowns look
just like normal teeth.
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- Perfect for prominent
teeth.
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- The safest for patients who
might have an allergy to metals.
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| DOWNSIDE: |
- Not quite as resistant to
breaking and chipping.
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- Can cause some wearing away
of neighboring teeth.
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4. Resin Crowns
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| This type of crowns are the least pricey
than other materials, but
they are also the most vulnerable to wear, breaks, and chips. |
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5. Temporary Tooth Crowns
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| Permanent crowns are made in a
dental laboratory for a
short waiting period. On the day of your visit dentists can make temporary crowns
for better appearance until the final crowns are ready. |
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| The temporary crowns are
usually constructed with acrylic or prefabricated stainless steel.
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Longevity of Tooth Crown
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| At a second visit, the
temporary crown is removed and the permanent dental crown is cemented to
your tooth. The new crown could be
mildly sensitive to cold temperatures
for a few weeks. |
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| Although, if the sensitivity is
serious, does not recede, or if the bite feels tight, contact your
dentist. Extra adjustments may be necessary.
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Depend on the skill of the dentist
and his lab technician, permanent tooth crowns can actually last up to
the life of the patient (50 years or more) with proper care. |
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| The average lifetime of a tooth crown
is around 10 years. NOTE:
many dental
insurances in the USA will allow for a crown to be replaced
after only 5 years. |
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| Full gold (high in noble
content) crowns last the longest. PFM's, or porcelain-fused-to-metal
crowns have a higher chance of problem than a full gold crown, as they
incorporate brittle porcelain. |
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Proper Care Tools and Best Products
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| But the most important factor
affecting the lifespan of any dental crown is the continuing
oral care
performed by the patient. A crowned tooth is not protected from
tooth decay
or gum disease! |
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To help fight
against bacterial plaque, dentists recommend the ESSENTIAL tools and
dental products as INTERDENTAL or BETWEEN TEETH and CROWNS
CLEANINGS: |
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You should
continue performing a great oral hygiene! |
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Broken
Crown as a
Dental Emergency
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- It is possible that the cement could wash out from
under the dental crown, but the
crown stands in place. Under these conditions,
germs or bacteria can leak in and cause
tooth decay.
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If your crown seems loose, contact your
dentist! |
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Your
crown may also fall out, due to a lack of cement or an
improper fit. Clean the crown inside and your tooth. Put
back the dental crown temporarily using denture adhesives:
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or temporary cements: |
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sold for this
purpose at drug store. You may need a new crown or to re-cement the old
one. |
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Contact your
dental office immediately and schedule an appointment for the next day! |
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Contact Dentist |
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| Looking forward to hearing from
you Aleksandr
V. Melekhin, DDS
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Return from Tooth Crown
to Philadelphia Dentist |
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