Dental Crowns
Restore your teeth with a permanent crown
Dealing with damaged teeth can be challenging, especially if they are non-functional. Thanks to the advanced dental treatments that can help restore damaged or broken teeth quickly by getting dental crowns.
Based on a survey conducted by the members of the Australian Dental Association, approximately 50% of the population in Australia chooses dental crowns to restore broken or damaged teeth. So, you are not alone if you want dental crowns on your front teeth!
Dental crowns can be the best way to correct a cracked tooth, severe decay, or a misshapen tooth. But before getting dental crowns, it’s normal for you to have several questions regarding their types, procedures, benefits, drawbacks, and essential aftercare tips. So, here’s all the information that you may need!
What are dental crowns?
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped, custom-made caps designed to encase your damaged or weakened tooth. These dental crowns offer overall protection to the damaged tooth, help restore its functionality, and improve its appearance.
Once your dentist fits a crown on your damaged teeth, it covers the entire visible portion of your tooth above the gum line, providing a strong and durable shield from any bacterial attacks.
Why do you need a dental crown?
Who does not love a natural-looking, beautiful smile? The best part about dental crowns is that they can help resolve your cosmetic and functional requirements. Here are some of the most common reasons you may opt for a dental crown:
- Repairing cracked or chipped teeth: Dental crowns can protect and reinforce a tooth with structural damage, preventing further deterioration.
- Restoring decayed teeth: When a tooth undergoes extensive decay or cavities, a crown can help strengthen the tooth after a decayed portion is removed.
- Covering any large filling: Often, some large fillings weaken the remaining tooth structure. In that case, getting a dental crown can provide added support and longevity to the tooth.
- Improving tooth appearance: Dental crowns can even enhance the appearance of discoloured or misaligned teeth, creating a uniform and attractive smile you have long desired.
- Supporting dental bridges: Dental crowns are used as a support to anchor any dental bridges, covering up the gap created by a missing tooth.
What are the types of dental crowns?
Finding suitable dental crowns can be daunting as the market has several variations. Each of these materials comes with unique advantages and considerations. Only an experienced dentist can guide you in the best possible way. Here are the various dental crowns that you might find in the market:
- Stainless steel
Stainless steel dental crowns are prefabricated crowns used temporarily on children’s primary teeth. These stainless steel crowns protect the entire tooth from further decay. When the primary tooth comes out to give space to the permanent tooth, these crowns come out naturally. Stainless dental crowns are durable and cost-effective options that protect the primary teeth until they naturally fall out.
- Metals
Metallic crowns are robust, long-lasting, and made from gold, platinum, or base metal alloys. The only drawback to these crowns is their metallic appearance, making them less suitable for visible teeth.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM)
These types of crowns come with a combination of metal strength and porcelain appearance, making them an excellent choice for your visible teeth, such as the front ones.
- All-resin crowns
A resin dental crown is one of the most affordable yet temporary dental crown options that you may use. However, resin crowns are easily prone to wear and tear, making them less durable than the others.
- All-ceramic/porcelain
Ceramic crowns are superior dental options with the most natural appearance. It is an aesthetic and metal-free option that you can get in your front or back teeth. Getting a dental crown on the front teeth is ideal and an excellent substitute if you have metal allergies.
- Temporary crowns & Permanent crowns
Temporary crowns are usually made in the dental office. They serve as placeholders for a brief duration of treatment, while the permanent crown is fabricated in a dental lab. Once ready, the permanent crown is cemented in place during the treatment.
Steps of the dental crown procedure
Generally, you need two sessions with your dentist to get a dental crown. However, the number of sessions may broadly vary from person to person, and your dentist can modify the sessions based on your requirements or availability. So here’s what you might expect in your first and last appointment.
First Consultation
- Analysis: Our dentist will examine the damaged tooth during your first visit and take X-rays to assess the extent of the problem. Your dentist might ask you several questions and will keep you fully informed about the following consecutive steps.
- Impression: After thoroughly examining your oral condition, your dentist will take an impression of the damaged tooth and the surrounding teeth to ensure a precise fit for the crown. The impression is then sent to the dental lab, where the permanent crown will be fabricated.
Second Consultation
- Crown fitting: During the second visit, your dentist will check if the permanent crown perfectly fits in the place and if its colour matches the surrounding teeth. Finally, the crown is cemented onto your pre-prepped tooth with all the necessary adjustments.
- Bonding: Lastly, your dentist uses dental cement to secure the crown, ensuring a strong and long-lasting bond.
Benefits of dental crowns
Dental crowns come with multiple benefits, and here are some of them:
- Enhanced aesthetics: Dental crown treatment can significantly improve the appearance of discoloured, misshapen, or damaged teeth, thus enhancing confidence.
- Strengthened teeth: By covering and protecting weak or damaged teeth, crowns provide added strength, reducing the risk of further damage.
- Improved functionality: Crowns not only improve the overall appearance of teeth but also help restore the functionality of damaged teeth, allowing you to chew and speak without discomfort.
- Long-lasting solution: With proper care, dental crowns can last for many years, providing a durable and reliable dental restoration that won’t dent your pocket.
Disadvantages of dental crowns
While dental crowns offer numerous advantages, there are a few drawbacks as well that you should be aware of:
- Cost: Dental crowns can be expensive, especially for more aesthetically pleasing options like ceramic crowns. However, you must remember that it offers a long-lasting solution if maintained with proper care.
- Tooth sensitivity: You might experience temporary sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures immediately after getting a crown. But, this is subjective to individuals.
- Potential complications: In rare cases, it has also been reported that the crown may become loose or fall off, requiring a replacement or re-cementing. And this is precisely why you must choose your dentist very carefully.
Therefore, if you are looking for a reliable dentist to get your dental crowns, Smile By Design can be a great choice, especially if you are around Bondi Junction or North Sydney. Here you can meet a team of highly skilled professionals whom you can trust and who can help you achieve what you desire.
Without a doubt, dental crowns are one of the best remedies for restoring impaired smiles, offering a strong and durable solution to your dental problems. From protecting weakened teeth to enhancing aesthetics, crowns are crucial in maintaining oral health and well-being.
FAQs
The recovery period from a dental crown procedure is very minimal. Some may experience mild sensitivity or discomfort for a few hours or days, but that might vary from person to person.
While dental crowns are durable, it’s generally advisable to avoid biting down on hard objects, chewing ice, or consuming sticky candies to prevent potential damage to the crown. To ensure durability, make sure you strictly follow the instructions provided by your dentist.
Dental crowns are long-lasting but cannot be entirely categorised as permanent, but they can last several years. However, you might need to replace your crowns in the future due to wear and tear.
With advancements in dental technology, you can choose from various crown materials that suit your needs and preferences. However proper care and regular dental check-ups are essential to ensure the longevity of dental crowns.
The durability of Dental crowns varies depending on the material, oral hygiene, and chewing habits. On average, crowns can last 10 to 15 years or even longer with good care. Adhere to your dentist’s advice for long-lasting crown placement.
Dental crowns are like natural teeth, so you must maintain excellent oral hygiene. Also, try to avoid habits like teeth grinding and biting hard objects. Regular dental check-ups are also essential to identify any issues that may further prolong your dental crowns’ life.