Dental crowns are among the most popular options for restorative dentistry. You may have also heard dental crowns referred to as caps; the two names are interchangeable. Dental crowns provide a protective covering for a tooth or several teeth that have had restorative dental work. Designed to match the surrounding teeth, dental crowns encase and cover the whole part of the tooth that is visible above the gum line.
Your dentist at All Care Dental by the Sea may advise you on placing a dental crown for various reasons. Dental crowns are valuable for restoring teeth that have cracked, broken, and become significantly worn down. Furthermore, a dental crown can restore a weakened tooth that has suffered some tooth decay.
Teeth that have received dental fillings can also benefit from having a dental crown as a protective covering. In these cases, the dental crowns will disguise the filling and strengthen the tooth.
Are you having a dental bridge put in? Another instance in which dental crowns are helpful is holding dental bridges in place. Dental crowns are also commonly used as the restoration method for singular dental implants. Severe discoloration and staining can also be hidden with dental crowns.
After your tooth is prepped, your dentist will outfit you with a temporary crown while your permanent dental crown is crafted at our state-of-the-art laboratory by our talented technicians. Temporary crowns will be made of stainless steel or acrylic.
There are several different materials from which your permanent crown can be specially crafted.
A prevalent material for dental crowns, metals are durable and can withstand many years of normal wear and tear.
For patients allergic to metals or when the dental crown is visible in the smile, ceramic and porcelain are great because they can be dyed to match the adjacent teeth.
A combination of the first two provides the strength of the metal with the color matching of the porcelain.
All-resin crowns are always the most affordable choice but do not offer the same durability as the others.