Dental Crown If you are struggling with missing teeth or decayed teeth that need to be removed, then dental crowns could be right for you. Dental crowns are replacement teeth that act as a covering for damaged or missing teeth. Crowns come in several different forms and can be made of a few different materials, depending on the intended function and aesthetic appeal of the tooth. The process for getting a crown is very basic, though it does depend slightly on the type of crown you get. We can explain your options and give you after-care instructions at Leavenworth Family Dental.Types of Dental CrownsCrowns can be categorized in two different ways: size and timeline. For instance, some tooth damage requires that the entire tooth be replaced, whereas other conditions may only need a partial covering. In this case, an onlay (three-quarter crown) is used. In addition, crowns can also be received on the day of the procedure or at the second appointment, with molding occurring on the day of the procedure. Dental Crown MaterialsFor teeth towards the front of the mouth that are not heavily involved in chewing, we typically recommend ceramic, porcelain, or resin crowns. Crowns can be made of all one material or a combination of materials. For instance, you can get a crown made of 100% ceramic, porcelain, or resin. You can also get porcelain-fused-to-metal or pressed ceramic crowns, which are ceramic crowns that are capped with a layer of porcelain. These types of crowns are less durable but blend well with the natural teeth, which is why they are usually preferred for the front teeth. On the other hand, teeth towards the back of the mouth that receive more impact are usually capped with metal crowns. There are a variety of metals that can be used, such as palladium, nickel, chromium, and gold. These do not look like natural teeth, but they are incredibly strong and have very long lifespans. ProcedureFor traditional crowns, the first visit will include x-rays and possibly a root canal or other form of treatment. This would be a separate consultation. The tooth on which the crown is placed will be filed and reshaped to make space for the crown. If there is not enough natural tooth remaining, then resin or another material can be used to build it up and make a good base for the crown. Our dentist will get a mold of your teeth and send it to our lab. You will also receive a temporary crown to protect your tooth in the meantime. At the follow-up appointment, the temporary crown is removed, and the permanent crown is placed using dental cement. This cement hardens and the crown is polished and reshaped to match the look of your other teeth. For same-day crowns, our dentist uses a digital scanner to make a 3D computerized image of your tooth. Another machine in our office then receives the image and molds your crown out of ceramic. This process is called computer-aided design or manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and it takes about 15 minutes to complete. For more information on dental crown procedures, call Leavenworth Family Dental at 913-682-1550 today. |
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