Crowns are for Royalty, Right? Dental Crowns Might Just be for You
The use of dental crowns in cosmetic dentistry has a long history. The procedure is an excellent method for restoring teeth that have been broken, damaged, or have decayed. If the root is still intact a crown or cap can be put over the tooth to add strength and functionality. When the root is dead, then a root canal will need to be performed prior to installing a crown to cap the tooth.
Once a crown is established as the indicated treatment for a damaged tooth, a cosmetic dentist will make an impression of the tooth. A crown will then be customized to fit over the damaged or broken tooth. A bonding material is used to secure the crown to the damaged tooth. The procedure is relatively short and can generally be completed in just one office visit.
Crowns are also used to fill the gap a missing tooth has created. By placing crowns on the adjacent teeth which are also connected to a replica tooth, the space created by the missing tooth is restored. These types of bridges are strong, functional, and last for many years. The procedure is a little more in depth as numerous impressions need to be taken, and crowns need to be fabricated for the bridge.
Another use of crowns is when a dental implant will be used to restore a missing tooth. When a cosmetic dentist uses dental implants they also fashion crowns to be attached to an anchor. This is primarily due to the fact that the root of the missing tooth is damaged beyond repair. Once the anchor has stabilized on the jaw bone the crown is attached to the anchor on the gum line.
The most commonly preferred material for crowns today is porcelain. One reason is their appearance is so close to the look of natural teeth, it is difficult to tell the difference. But, some crowns are also made of metals such as gold, and silver. Some individuals prefer porcelain because they don’t like the presence of metal in their mouth. Metal crowns do provide a significantly different feel over the more popular porcelain crowns.