When discolored teeth don’t respond to teeth whitening or if teeth have become cracked, broken, decayed or simply worn down, a dental crown can be used to bring them back to a healthy state and a beautiful appearance. A dental crown which is also known as a “cap” covers a tooth to help restore its strength, size, shape and appearance.

There are a variety of options when it comes to dental crowns. They can be made from precious metal, porcelain fused to metal or all-porcelain (ceramic). In my office, we recommend all-ceramic crowns for a variety of reasons. To begin with, they provide the best color match, which means we can find the right shade of porcelain to blend with the natural color of your teeth, even if we are going a few shades brighter to whiten your teeth in the process.

And, because there is no metal in an all-ceramic crown, you will not have the unnatural grey color near your gum line that generally happens when crowns are made from materials that include metal. Without the ‘grey line’ issue, the crown will blend in with your natural teeth. Also, all-ceramic crowns are “tissue friendly” allowing the gum tissue to grow back up against the tooth which does not always happen with crowns that contain metal. Ceramic crowns are also bio-compatible which means no allergic reactions, hot or cold sensitivity or impact on the taste of the foods you eat. Along with these benefits, ceramic crowns are also very durable and with proper dental hygiene habits should last for a number of years. In fact, clinical studies have shown that all-ceramic crowns are exceptionally strong.

When your dentist determines that a crown is needed to repair or restore a tooth, any decay that is present will be removed and your tooth will be reshaped in preparation of receiving the crown. Once that process is completed, an impression is made of the tooth that the crown will be covering as well as the area of the mouth in which the tooth is located and that impression is sent to a dental laboratory where the ceramic crown will be created. A temporary crown is then placed on your tooth to protect the area until your permanent crown is ready.

Once the ceramic crown is returned to the dental office, your temporary crown will be removed and the dentist will check the tooth to ensure that it is cavity-free and ready to receive the permanent crown. At that time, the fit and color of the crown will be confirmed and if necessary a local anesthetic is used to numb the tooth while the new crown is permanently cemented in place. Once your ceramic crown is permanently placed in your mouth, it will look, feel and function just like your natural teeth.

Your all-ceramic crown does not need special care, but it does require good daily oral hygiene habits that include brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day, especially around the area where the tooth and gum meet to protect the base of your crown from bacterial growth. Regular dental checkups at least once every six months are also important to ensure that the crown has not come loose and bacteria is building up beneath it.

Ceramic crowns can not only be used for teeth that need to be repaired or restored, they can also be used to replace any current crowns in your mouth that contain metal.

Author Bio: Dr. Gianino has based his dental philosophy on patient respect and genuine relationships, taking the time to learn about the smile of your dreams – the smile you deserve. You can visit his website at DrGianino.com. He would love to hear from you.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: crowns, dental crowns, ceramic crowns, cosmetic dentistry, permanent crown