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Dental Crowns

What are dental crowns?

Grinding your teeth, an improper bite, age, fillings and tooth decay can all be contributing factors in the wearing down, cracking or breakage of your teeth. Dental crowns cover the entire visible surface of your affected tooth and add strength, durability and tooth stability.

Your dentist will usually be able to spot problem areas in your mouth that might lead to tooth damage and a need for crowns. By selectively grinding the tips of your middle and back teeth (called cusps), your bite can be altered to reduce the stress on at-risk teeth.

In other instances, crowns may be used to replace an actual missing tooth. These crowns are anchored to the teeth on either side and a bridge section connects the two crowns. Single tooth dental implants may be used at other times to eliminate the need for supporting the crowns

How are crowns attached to your teeth?

Your cosmetic dentist will make an impression of the tooth and a dental laboratory will create the crown within three weeks. You will typically leave the office with a temporary crown while the permanent crown is being made. The permanent crown is then cemented onto your tooth. Typically, only two visits are required for this part of the procedure. Often, a preliminary restoration of your tooth may be needed before a crown can be placed. To stabilize your tooth, a filling must first be put in place prior to placing a crown due to the loss of original tooth structure. Tooth crowns will last up to ten years.

What are the pros and cons of dental crowns?

Tooth crowns add a good deal of strength to weakened or worn teeth. Depending on your habits and the condition of your gums, there can be some drawbacks, though. Your cosmetic dentist will recommend which type of crown is best for you. Many factors are considered, including the importance of appearance to you. The following are advantages and disadvantages of the most common types of crowns.

Gold crowns
Advantage: The preparation of a tooth for a gold crown is the simplest and least complicated. There is minimal removal of tooth structure and much of the healthy tooth structure remains untouched. Gold is not likely to cause wear on opposing teeth over time. Gold is also easy to fit to the area where tooth and gum meet and is a healthy environment for the gum tissue.

Disadvantage: The biggest disadvantage to gold crowns is the cosmetic aspect, unless it is being used in the back of your mouth.

Porcelain crowns
Advantage: Porcelain crowns or new reinforced resin are considered to be the most aesthetically pleasing, as it is so easily matched in color to the surrounding teeth.

Disadvantage: The thickness of the porcelain required for pleasing aesthetics also requires that more tooth structure be removed. It is sometimes difficult for your cosmetic dentist to get an ideal fit where your gum meets the crown. Gingival inflammation appears to be more common with porcelain crowns than gold crowns. All-porcelain crowns require a higher level of skill from your dentist and lab.

Porcelain fused-to-metal crowns
Advantage: Porcelain fused-to-metal crowns have a very natural appearance.

Disadvantage: They have a metal substructure and require an opaque below the porcelain. This can make the translucency of natural teeth difficult to replicate. A dark line may become visible at the edge of the crown where it meets the gum if your gums recede with age.

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