Are you looking for information on dental crowns? You’re in the right place! Whether you need a crown to restore your damaged tooth or simply to improve your smile without surgery, then you should definitely consider dental crown or “caps” as they are also called.

Let’s talk about the different types of dental crowns and what you can expect when you visit your dentist for the procedure.

First of all, what is a dental crown?

Basically, it is a tooth-shaped covering that can encase the part of the tooth that is visible. There are many reasons why people get a crown, including the need to restore a damaged tooth, to cover a decayed tooth which can no longer be filled, to add strength to a weak tooth, and to improve smile.

Before dental crowns, the only way to address a heavily decayed or damaged tooth was to have it removed. With dental crowns, dentists have a way to avoid extraction and save much of the tooth structure. Capped teeth function and feel like a natural ones, too.

What is a crown made from?

Dental crowns are usually made from durable materials including:

• Dental Ceramic like porcelain or zirconia that is coloured to match the patient’s existing teeth
• Metal alloy like gold, palladium, or platinum that can be either silver or gold in colour
• A combination of the above-mentioned materials known as PFM or porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns

Choosing the Right Material is Important

Each material has its own advantages and advantages – how do you choose the right material for your dental crown? A lot of considerations should be made, including which teeth are being capped, how long you want your crowns to last, and of course, your aesthetic preference.

Ceramic crowns are built up layer by layer in a dental lab. The process gives them the translucent-like appearance of natural teeth, making them a popular choice for crowns for front teeth. The downside, however, is that although ceramic is very strong it is still more brittle compared to metal and could chip or crack.

Crowns that are made from gold or other alloy metals are more durable and are also biocompatible with teeth, so they shouldn’t cause damage to the patient’s teeth that they bite against. The drawback is that many people don’t want a gold or silver tooth, especially if they’re going to be in front.

PFM crowns have the strength of metal and the natural look of porcelain crowns, although they still look a little different from your natural teeth because of how they are layered.

The process of having dental crowns fitted and applied often requires multiple visits that could span weeks or even months.

There is, however, an option that allows dentists to provide their patients with dental crowns in just one visit! Modern technology makes use of digital scans taken of the patient’s mouth – a more convenient option compared to the tedious dental impression procedure.

Remember that whichever dental crown type you choose, you’ll have that for years so make sure you that you choose well. It’s a good idea to ask your dentist everything you need to know about each option, and let her or him know about your preferences, your expectations, and even apprehensions. Your dentist will surely help you make an informed decision.

Dental Laboratory Associates makes high quality dental crowns. If you’re ready to have them, you can give us a call and we can refer you to one of our top dentists in your area!