Crowns in Dentistry.. To Save Your Tooth
Crowns In Dentistry Repair and Restore Your Teeth
Of all the cosmetic dentistry options available to patients, the dental crown is probably one of the most often utilized cosmetic repairs done on teeth. Certainly, either you know some one or perhaps you, yourself, have had to have tooth restoration procedure done in which a crown was made and fitted for you.
Common Reasons to Use Crowns in Dentistry
Crowns in dentistry are generally used for a number of different reasons. Let's take a look at why you might have to have a crown fitted to replace a tooth.
- To cover an implant that is not matching properly.
- To protect a tooth that has been weakened by decay.
- To repair or restore a tooth that has all ready broken down.
- To repair or restore a tooth that has been worn down.
- To strengthen a tooth that has a large filling and which doesn't have very much structure left on its own.
- To prepare an anchor tooth for a dental bridge.
- To restore a discolored tooth to match your existing teeth.
Materials Used For Crowns in Dentistry
A crown, itself, is a laboratory made covering for a tooth that caps it by being glued or bonded onto the remaining surface of your natural tooth. Many different materials can be used to produce a suitable crown for this process. The most common dentistry crowns are made from porcelain, resin, metals and some combinations of these materials, such as porcelain that is fused onto a metal base.
Choosing Your Crowns in Dentistry
Each material used for a crown has its pros and cons. For example, metal crowns last the longest and do not cause excessive wear on the adjoining teeth. Unfortunately, metal crowns are rather unsightly and usually are only used on molars that are generally not seen. A metal alloy tends to be a mid-expensive crown.
Crowns formed of resin are usually the least expensive, but they do wear down or break in a shorter period of time than porcelain.
Longevity of Crowns in Dentistry
Porcelain crowns, though sturdy enough for the job, do tend to wear down the adjoining teeth quickly, and may be prone to breaking more so than porcelain that is fused to metal. Porcelain is also the easiest material to match the color to your natural teeth. These are probably the best choice to use if you need to have a crown on any of your front teeth.
Once it's been determined that a crown is the best restorative dentistry procedure for your particular situation, you can then examine the various materials from which to have your crown fabricated. Remember to consider longevity, abrasiveness to other teeth, color matching, and cost for your crowns in dentistry choice.