There are a number of dental issues that patients may experience and need a dental restoration. Dental restorations includes treatments such as fillings, crowns, inlays, bridges, and dental implants just to name a few. Crowns can be either partial or full coverage, depending on the severity of the damage to the tooth. Maladies that can require a full coverage crown include things like:
- Extensive decay
- A broken or cracked tooth
- Lost filling
- Root canal therapy
- Recurrent decay under an existing crown or filling
What is a full coverage crown?
A dental crown is considered a permanent restoration which is fabricated and tinted to match your natural teeth. A lot of patients know the term “cap” which is a crown and fits over the entire exposed structure of the tooth, all the way to the gum line. A crown is used when a feeling is insufficient for repairing the affected tooth and can even save a tooth that may otherwise need to be extracted.
When you have a crown placed, your dentist will take an impression of the tooth before removing a small amount of enamel from each surface and fitting the tooth with a temporary crown. A small amount of tooth structure has to be removed to ensure a proper, snug fit for the new crown. The impression is used to fabricate a dental model which is sent to a dental lab who will fabricate your crown. Some offices have the technology for same day crowns which have the benefit of one visit instead of the patient coming back to have their lab made crown placed.
What are dental crowns made of?
There are actually quite a few material options for dental crowns. Your dentist will help you determine what material type will be best for you. Let's take a closer look at some of the most common materials.
Porcelain and Ceramic: Patients with metal allergies will benefit from a ceramic or porcelain crown. This type of crown is not as strong as metal crowns but they offer the most natural coloring available and are a great option for teeth that show when you smile.
Resin: Resin crowns are less expensive, making them a popular choice among patients. The downside is that resin is not as strong as porcelain and is not likely to last as long before wearing down or even breaking.
Metal: Base metals are also used to make dental crowns. Metals such as nickel, gold, palladium or chromium are incredibly strong and durable and rarely chip or break. Metal crowns cannot be tinted to match the rest of your teeth so they are best suited to molars since they do not show when you smile.
Porcelain Fused to Metal: PFM crowns are the best of both worlds! A metal crown is fabricated with a porcelain coating so they have the strength of metal and the aesthetic benefits of porcelain. The drawback to PFM crowns is that the metal can start to show as the patient ages or if they experience gum recession.
Dental crowns are a great option to restore a damaged tooth and keep your smile healthy! Your dentist will be able to advise you on material and which type will be best for you.