A crown is a tooth-shaped covering that completely hides the damaged part of the tooth. As people become aware of the importance of dental health, they are making efforts to improve the appearance of their teeth as well. After all, teeth are an integral part of our overall appearance, so it is important to make them look perfect to have a confident smile.
There are many reasons to use crowns for dental health improvement. A few of them are listed below:
● Boosting the cosmetic appearance of teeth
● When a tooth has decayed to some extent, and considerable space is visible in the smile
● Adding strength to A weakened tooth
● Restoring damaged or broken teeth
Crowns can be designed using a variety of materials; some of them are metallic while many others are designed to give the appearance of natural teeth. You can choose the material as per your unique requirements.
Some of you may have observed that people commonly use two terms for this tooth treatment: crown and cap. These names are used interchangeably for the same process. “Dental crown” is the technical term, while “dental cap” is the layman term.
The market is loaded with a variety of dental crowns, and a few of them are listed below.
Ceramic Dental Crowns
Ceramic and porcelain crowns are mostly recommended for restoring the front teeth. They are known for their natural texture and color; people find them to be the perfect choice to blend with existing natural teeth. Moreover, they can be modified to match the specific color of your existing teeth.
Porcelain crowns are not recommended for premolars and molars because the ceramic material can become brittle under heavy biting forces.
Pros
● Good for the front teeth
● The best solution for patients with metal allergies
● The most efficient choice for creating a natural appearance with specific color matching
Porcelain Fused to Metal
According to New York Total Dental, Porcelain-fused-to-metal or PFM crowns are highly preferred by patients. The porcelain part of these specially designed crowns adds a natural look to the teeth, while the metal structure makes them ultra-durable.
To move forward with PFM restoration, dentists first remove a considerable amount of the tooth’s structure.
Pros
● Ensure a discrete appearance because they are commonly color-matched to the natural teeth
● Ultra-durable
Gold Alloy Dental Crowns
As the name indicates, these crowns are made from gold alloys or may have a combination of copper, gold, and various other metals. Generally, gold alloy crowns are strong enough, and they do fracture. Also, they do not cause any harm to the underlying tooth.
Note that gold alloy dental crowns are also biocompatible with gum tissue.
Pros
● Do not fracture
● Do not cause harm to the neighboring or underlying teeth
● Protect teeth from decay
Base Metal Alloys Dental Crowns
Base metal alloys dental crowns are highly resistant to corrosion, and they are a sturdy choice as well. They are designed using non-noble metals that are gentle on neighboring teeth. Just a small amount of tooth structure is removed before applying this type of crown.
Pros
● Made from high-quality metals, such as nickel, chromium alloy, palladium, and gold
● Don’t require much removal of the existing tooth
● A better choice for back teeth
Temporary and Permanent Crowns
Crowning can be done in two ways: permanent or temporary. When we talk about child dental care, the baby teeth are generally covered using temporary crowns made from stainless steel. Later, as the adult tooth arrives, it automatically pushes the temporary crown out to take its assigned place.
Temporary crowns are also used for adults but only during the initial stage of treatment. It takes time for a professional to craft the permanent crown in the dental lab. During this time, patients can wear temporary crowns to maintain their smile.