Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are long-lasting and durable tooth prosthetics. They can bemade of gold alloy or more natural-looking porcelain. Crowns are usually included in your dental plan coverage. This makes them a option for your tooth’s restoration.

Dental crowns are designed to strengthen and restore damaged and decayed teeth by covering them and securing the remaining parts. Crowns are one of the most commonly used tooth restorations because they are strong, esthetic, functional, long lasting and covered (at least partly) by many dental insurance plans.

Why choose dental crowns?

Crowns can be used for a wide variety of purposes. Buckhead Dental Associates might recommend a crown for you if:

• You have a deeply cracked, worn or fractured tooth
• You have a tooth with a large cavity
• You are undergoing a root canal
• You have a tooth that is abnormally small, strangely shaped or very discolored

Dental crowns are often used in conjunction with other restorative dentistry treatments. For example, crowns can anchor a bridge in place on either side of a missing tooth. With dental implants, a porcelain crown is the finishing touch to create a natural looking smile again.

Dental crowns procedure overview

Crowns are fitted as part of a two stage process. During your first visit, your tooth is evaluated using x-rays to determine the amount of damage that needs to be repaired. You will discuss which type of crown you want for your restoration. If you choose a porcelain crown, you will go through a color matching process to pick the right shade to match your surrounding teeth. Your tooth will be prepared by removing a portion of the enamel all the way around and across the top. If the area of decay is significant, a filler material may be used to build up the damaged part of the tooth so it can support a crown.

After this, photos of your treated tooth will be taken as well as the opposing and adjacent teeth. These photos will create a three dimensional model of your mouth. This model is sent to a dental lab so a custom crown with the correct size, shape and biting surface can be fabricated. You will be fitted with a temporary tooth colored crown to cover up the prepared tooth. When your customized crown arrives, it will be bonded to your tooth using a strong dental cement. Any final shaping and polishing will be done at this stage. The goal is to ensure that your restored tooth looks good and is comfortable to use for biting and chewing. Occasionally, patients need a repeat visit to make minor adjustments to the crown.

A local anesthetic is used during the preparation phase but rarely at the installation phase. Any tooth sensitivity after the anesthetic wears off should be temporary. Your crown should feel comfortable and natural when it is properly installed and fitted.

More information about dental crowns

Some crowns are made of porcelain to mimic the appearance of enamel. Others are gold alloys such as gold. Patients who want the benefits of a realistic tooth restoration with a strong metal base can choose a crown that is porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM).

Buckhead Dental Associates offers the following options:

• Gold Crowns are typically the simplest to install since the metal is easy to work with. Gold crowns are very strong but not hard enough to wear down the opposing tooth during biting and chewing. They don’t look like natural teeth and are most commonly used for restoring molars (back teeth).
• Porcelain (ceramic) crowns are slightly translucent and carefully color-matched to look like real teeth. These crowns may be slightly more brittle than metal and can be tough on opposing teeth during chewing. They are most commonly used to restore front teeth.
• PFM dental crowns offer the long-lasting durability of a metal base with the natural look of a porcelain coating. However, since the porcelain is layered over metal, it may look opaque and slightly less realistic.

No matter which material you choose, you will need to take care of your crown for long lasting results. This includes regular brushing and flossing and avoiding foods or habits (like chewing ice) that could damage the restoration.