in Barrie
Dental crowns are used to protect and restore damaged teeth by placing a cap over the affected tooth. When fillings aren’t enough to address the issue, dental crowns can be made from a variety of materials such as metals, porcelain, resin, and ceramics. Unlike other dental procedures, dental crowns don’t require special care over time, but regular good oral hygiene is still necessary.
As time passes, your teeth can become damaged due to various reasons such as tooth decay, injuries, or natural wear and tear. This can cause your teeth to lose their shape or size. Dental crowns are designed to cover your tooth like a snug hat, restoring its strength, size, shape, and appearance.
Once the dental crown is created, it’s cemented into place over your tooth, covering the visible part of the affected tooth.
There are several reasons why you may need a dental crown, such as:
- Protecting a weakened tooth from breaking due to decay or to hold together a cracked tooth.
- Restoring a broken or severely worn-down tooth.
- Supporting a tooth with a large filling and minimal remaining tooth structure.
- Anchoring a dental bridge in place.
- Concealing misshapen or severely discolored teeth.
- Covering a dental implant.
- Covering a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment.
There are different types of dental crowns that can be used, including onlays and 3/4 crowns, which don’t cover as much of the underlying tooth as traditional crowns. These options may be appropriate when the tooth still has a solid structure, making it a more conservative approach compared to full coverage. With onlays and 3/4 crowns, the affected area is removed and the tooth is reshaped to receive the crown.
Dental crowns can be made from various materials, including:
Metal:
Gold, palladium, nickel, and chromium are some of the metals used for crowns. Metal crowns are durable, resistant to chipping and breaking, and require minimal removal of tooth structure. However, their metallic color may not be aesthetically pleasing, making them more suitable for molars that are not visible when you smile.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal:
These crowns have a porcelain exterior that can match the colour of adjacent teeth. They are less noticeable than metal crowns, but the metal underneath the porcelain can sometimes show through as a dark line. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns can wear down opposing teeth over time and may chip or break.
All-resin:
Resin crowns are the least expensive option but can wear down faster and are more prone to breaking than porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
Pressed ceramic:
These crowns offer the most natural colour match and are an ideal option for people with metal allergies. However, they may not be as durable as porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns and can wear down opposing teeth over time. These crowns have a strong inner core and a porcelain exterior for a natural color match. They are more long-lasting than all-porcelain crowns and don’t have a metal liner like porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
A crowned tooth doesn’t need any special care. However, the underlying tooth still needs to be protected from decay or gum disease. Because of this, you should continue to follow good oral hygiene practices. These practices include brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day — especially around the crown area where the gum meets your tooth. Also, avoid biting on hard surfaces with porcelain crowns (for example, chewing ice or popcorn hulls) to prevent cracking the porcelain.
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Georgian Mall Family Dental is one big, happy family and we would be delighted for you to join us in caring for your dental needs – no doctor referral required. We offer a warm and welcoming environment that will immediately help you feel at home, and our diversified team of specialists can take care of any and every dental procedure you may need.
Georgian Mall, 509 Bayfield Street, Barrie
We are located on the Upper Level inside Georgian Mall,
across from Sportchek