Types of Dental Crowns and How to Choose the Best One

Do you have a severely damaged tooth? If so, a dental crown may be the answer to saving the tooth. When a tooth is severely damaged, its structure tends to wear down and weaken. It can cause severe discomfort and potential problems such as difficulty eating, brushing, and speaking. Similarly, when your teeth are severely stained and won’t respond to whitening and veneers, your dentist may recommend getting a crown.

A dental crown is a tooth-colored dental cap placed over a damaged tooth to restore its appearance, size, strength, and shape. A crown covers the entire noticeable part of the damaged tooth. In most cases, dental crowns are combined with other treatments such as root canal and dental fillings. Generally, a crown acts as a cosmetic and restorative treatment.

Common reasons for dental crowns:

• Cover a weakened tooth with a large filling
• Repair a broken, worn out, cracked, chipped, or fractured tooth
• Strengthen a weakened tooth
• Protect a tooth after root canal treatment
• Conceal uneven or misshapen teeth
• Enhance the appearance of a severely discolored tooth
• Hold a dental bridge
• Support and cover a dental implant

Keep in mind that dental crowns aren’t ideal for all patients. For instance, you don’t need a crown if you only have minor to average tooth damage such as cracks, chips, or discoloration. For those, bonding, teeth whitening, and veneers would be better options.

If you have an appointment for a dental crown procedure or you’re considering one, you might be wondering which type of crown material to choose. Each type of crown has its own pros and cons and some are better suited for specific conditions.

Types of Dental Crowns

• Metal crowns

If you are looking for the most durable crowns, then metal crowns are your best option. Metal crowns are made from a combination of metal alloys, giving them excellent strength, durability, and resistance to wear and tear. The only major downside is the metallic color that can make them aesthetically unappealing. Due to their strength and poor aesthetics, metal crowns are suitable for back teeth restorations.

• Gold crowns

Like metal crowns, gold crowns have excellent strength and durability. Gold crowns are typically 60% gold and 40% an alloy of other metals. Gold crowns are gentler on the adjacent teeth than metal crowns, making them an ideal solution for people with bruxism due to their visible nature and strength.

• Porcelain crowns

Porcelain crowns are an excellent option if you’re looking for an aesthetically appealing option. Porcelain crowns have a tooth-colored shade that matches well with natural teeth. Still, they are strong and resist wear and staining better than natural teeth. Because they are strong and aesthetically appealing, porcelain crowns can be used for back and front-tooth restorations.

• Ceramic crowns

For an aesthetically pleasing but more robust option than porcelain crowns, there are ceramic crowns. Ceramic crowns are stronger, durable, and can resist damage better than porcelain crowns.

• Zirconia crowns

Zirconia is a newer but popular choice of dental crowns. It features the strength and durability of metal and the natural appearance of porcelain and ceramic crowns.

Dental Crowns Treatment Procedure

Generally, dental crowns can be completed in a single or multi-day procedure. Before performing the procedure, the dentist will examine your mouth and teeth to determine whether you’re a good candidate for the treatment. Typically, the procedure of getting a crown involves:

• The dentist begins by numbing the area around the damaged tooth
• Next, the dentist prepares the tooth by shavings off a part of its enamel. If the tooth doesn’t have sufficient structure, the dentist can rebuild the tooth to provide enough room for the crown to attach correctly
• The dentist then makes molds of the shaved and surrounding teeth
• If the dentist has crown-making technology, they will take digital images of the teeth and customize the crown in the office. The dentist then cements the crown on the same day
• If the dentist doesn’t have the technology, the impressions are sent to a lab to create the permanent crown. It can take several weeks. The dentist puts a temporary crown to protect the prepared tooth while waiting for the customized crown
• Once the customized crown is ready, you’ll go for the second visit
• Lastly, the dentist will remove the temporary crown and use stronger cement to install the permanent crown

Schedule Your Appointment Today

Are you interested in dental crown services and treatment? Contact Edgartown Dental Group for more information.