Dental Crowns

If you have a damaged tooth, your dentist may suggest that a crown be used to restore the look and function of that tooth. Quite simply, a crown is nothing more than a cap that is used to cover a natural tooth that has suffered some type of damage. Rather than just living with the damaged tooth and its decreased function, you can turn to a crown for a quick and easy way to address the issue.

In this article, we’d like to take a closer look at the top of dental crowns. First, what are they made of? There are a few options, so we’ll talk about what you can expect in terms of a material to be used. Later, we’ll cover some of the other topics related to this treatment.

Dental Crown Materials

One of the biggest decisions to be made in the dental crown process is determining which material is going to be used for the job. As is usually the case with things like this, each of the options has its own benefits, so discussing the possibilities with your dentist before settling on a plan is the right way to go.

Let’s take a look at some of the popular options and why you may use them for your upcoming dental crown.

  • Porcelain. If you desire a crown that looks great and is hard to distinguish from your natural teeth, you may want to keep porcelain high on your list. Once you have a quality porcelain crown put in place, it will be nearly impossible for others to tell that one of your natural teeth has been covered by a crown. While it looks great, there can be a couple of potential downsides here, including the possibility that this crown will damage nearby teeth, and it may fracture a bit easier than other materials.
  • Gold. It should go without saying that durability is going to be a major plus if you opt for gold. If you would like to have your crown put in place and be able to forget about it for years to come, gold should do the trick nicely. Of course, a gold crown is not going to look anything like your natural teeth, so it may not be appealing to you from an aesthetic standpoint. Many patients choose to use gold crowns when having work done on teeth near the back of the mouth and mostly out of view.
  • Porcelain fused to metal. Another option for your crown is a combination of materials, where porcelain is fused to metal to create the final crown. Going this direction will bring down the cost as compared to a full porcelain crown, so that may be appealing to some patients. Basically, there is a metal layer beneath the porcelain, so you still get the great look that is associated with porcelain crowns.

While the list above is an overview of the options available, there are plenty of other choices and many factors that need to be considered. Working closely together with your dentist is the only way to make the right choice, as you’ll be able to work through your concerns and priorities and use the dentist’s knowledge and experience to arrive at a confident decision.

The Basic Process

Now that we have covered some of the materials that can be used as dental crowns, let’s talk a bit about the process of having a crown put in place. What should you expect once this treatment has been decided on and the day arrives to have the work completed? For starters, you don’t need to be living in fear of the treatment. This is a relatively simple treatment and most patients will only experience minor discomfort.

The use of anesthetic will depend on whether or not there is live pulp remaining in the tooth. If there is, a local anesthetic shot will be used to numb the area. Of course, if no live pulp is remaining, such as is the case after a root canal, the anesthetic may not be needed.

With the issue of anesthesia worked out, the dentist can prepare the tooth and take an impression. The impression will need to be sent to a lab where your permanent crown will be created. In the meantime, you will receive a temporary crown to protect the prepared tooth and make sure it is ready for the final treatment after the real crown has been manufactured. Once the permanent crown arrives, your dentist will fix it in place using a specifically-designed cement.

How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?

While dental crowns are an excellent solution for damaged teeth, nothing lasts forever. Crowns do have a lifespan, but there is quite a wide range of outcomes possible based on a number of factors. You may get a few years’ worth of reliable service out of your new crown, or you may get well beyond a decade. How long the crown lasts will depend in part of the material it is made from, as well as which tooth is being covered.

You can do yourself a big favor with regard to your oral health by taking good care of your crown, as well as the rest of your teeth. It starts with brushing a couple of times a day, of course, as you should be doing anyway. From there, not grinding or clenching your teeth is a good step, as well as avoiding chewing on hard and sharp things such as ice cubes. If you treat your mouth well and make good decisions, you can expect your crown to last toward the longer end of the spectrum.

Whether you need dental crowns or any other kind of treatment, Spokane Dental will be proud to serve you. If you would like to ask any questions of our staff, or if you would like to make an appointment, simply give us a call during business hours. Thank you for visiting and we hope to serve you soon!