If you’ve got a chipped, broken or badly decayed tooth, your prosthodontist is likely to cover it with a crown instead of replacing the entire tooth. It’s a simpler procedure and gives great results in most cases. Dental crowns, also known as dental caps, are the size and shape of your natural teeth. They’re made to fit over the existing tooth, which might be filed down to allow the crown to fit better. The crown is cemented in place, giving you a permanent solution to your bad tooth problem. Your results will depend on what materials your crown is made of; there are several varieties, and each one gives a different look to your smile.
Resin crowns are generally the least expensive option, but that comes with a major disadvantage. They’re also the most fragile of the crowns available, and they can wear down much more quickly than other types of dental caps. Resin crowns can be fashioned to look exactly like a natural tooth, and they look very good in your mouth, but they frequently have to be replaced due to the damage done from everyday wear.
For long-lasting durability, you can’t beat metal crowns. These crowns are made of a special metal alloy designed to be very durable and long-lasting. They’re moderately priced, which is another point in their favor. In addition, the metal used to make the crowns is generally thinner than other crown materials. This means that less of the original tooth will have to be removed before fitting the crown on top. The biggest downside to metal crowns is the way they look. Not everyone wants a shiny silver or gold tooth front-and-center in their mouth. But if the tooth that needs to be capped is a molar far back in your jaw, a metal crown might be the best option, both because of its strength and because it’s not likely to be seen.
The other side of the variety of crowns is the porcelain variety. These dental crowns, sometimes made of ceramic materials instead, can be created to look exactly like natural teeth. If you want your smile restored to its original beauty, or if you’re allergic to metal, porcelain crowns can be the ideal choice. Despite these obvious benefits, they do have some drawbacks. Porcelain crowns are subject to chipping and being worn down, often creating a need for them to be replaced eventually. Also, porcelain crowns in one jaw are known to cause the opposite teeth to wear down because of the contact between the two. Finally, porcelain teeth are the most difficult to secure in the mouth, allowing them to pop out more often.
Perhaps the best of both worlds when it comes to dental crowns are those made of porcelain fused to metal. These dental caps combine the strength you find in metal crowns with the natural beauty of a porcelain crown.
They begin with a metal base that’s perfectly fitted to your existing tooth and that can be securely cemented in place. They’re then covered with a layer of porcelain designed to match the color of your surrounding teeth, allowing them to blend in naturally. The porcelain layer makes these crowns a bit less durable than the all-metal type, but they’re still among the most long-lasting varieties you can choose.
One more downside to this type of crown is that the porcelain may gradually wear away as you use your teeth, allowing the base metal below to show through. This will generally show as a dark gray line or shadow on the tooth.
When you’re ready to tackle those big dental procedures, only the most skilled Houston prosthodontists will do. Maple Leaf Dental can turn back time, replacing your damaged teeth with artificial ones that even your mother won’t notice. Call us at (281) 497-5558 or email us to get started. Your smile won’t wait forever!
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