A dental crown restores damaged teeth, and together with a dental implant can replace a missing tooth.
If you've ever experienced dental trauma you may be familiar with the term "dental crown". It's also called a "dental cap". If teeth are broken or severely decayed, the best way to stabilize their structure is to cap or crown them. This prevents further breakage or decay. A crowned tooth is as functional and beautiful as an original tooth and it extends the life of the damaged tooth by many years.
Crowns are used for another purpose too. If a tooth is lost for instance, then a dental implant may be recommended by your dentist in Newport Beach. An implant is an artificial tooth root and is placed below the gum line. In order to make the restoration look natural, a dental crown is employed in the place of the tooth structure that is visible in the mouth. Therefore, a crown is an integral part of a complete dental implant. The implant provides the foundation and the strength of the whole structure while the crown maintains aesthetics and allows chewing.
As a dental crown restores the function of a natural tooth, it has to be strong to withstand the pressures of chewing and grinding of teeth. Therefore, a crown is made up of porcelain and metal fused together. This combination provides the most strength. Porcelain mimics the color and the texture of the enamel - the outermost layer of natural teeth. However, porcelain by itself is not strong enough to create a cover for a tooth in some situations. The metal is used inside the crown while the porcelain appears on the outside giving it a natural look.
How is a crown placed on the tooth? Bonding (with dental cement) is typically used to fit the crown precisely over the damaged natural tooth. The fit must be very good if the structure is to be strong and stable. That is why crowns are built based on an impression of the natural teeth. Because the crown needs to be made carefully with the best materials, this restoration is quite costly when compared to others. The prefabrication process took several days to complete a decade ago. However, recent advances in this area (i.e. CAD/CAM dentistry) have made it possible to create porcelain crowns in one day. This has also allowed dentists to take control of the prefabrication process without having to depend on a dental laboratory.
A crown can last many years if good oral health is maintained.
If you've ever experienced dental trauma you may be familiar with the term "dental crown". It's also called a "dental cap". If teeth are broken or severely decayed, the best way to stabilize their structure is to cap or crown them. This prevents further breakage or decay. A crowned tooth is as functional and beautiful as an original tooth and it extends the life of the damaged tooth by many years.
Crowns are used for another purpose too. If a tooth is lost for instance, then a dental implant may be recommended by your dentist in Newport Beach. An implant is an artificial tooth root and is placed below the gum line. In order to make the restoration look natural, a dental crown is employed in the place of the tooth structure that is visible in the mouth. Therefore, a crown is an integral part of a complete dental implant. The implant provides the foundation and the strength of the whole structure while the crown maintains aesthetics and allows chewing.
As a dental crown restores the function of a natural tooth, it has to be strong to withstand the pressures of chewing and grinding of teeth. Therefore, a crown is made up of porcelain and metal fused together. This combination provides the most strength. Porcelain mimics the color and the texture of the enamel - the outermost layer of natural teeth. However, porcelain by itself is not strong enough to create a cover for a tooth in some situations. The metal is used inside the crown while the porcelain appears on the outside giving it a natural look.
How is a crown placed on the tooth? Bonding (with dental cement) is typically used to fit the crown precisely over the damaged natural tooth. The fit must be very good if the structure is to be strong and stable. That is why crowns are built based on an impression of the natural teeth. Because the crown needs to be made carefully with the best materials, this restoration is quite costly when compared to others. The prefabrication process took several days to complete a decade ago. However, recent advances in this area (i.e. CAD/CAM dentistry) have made it possible to create porcelain crowns in one day. This has also allowed dentists to take control of the prefabrication process without having to depend on a dental laboratory.
A crown can last many years if good oral health is maintained.