Uses And Types Of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are widely used in restorative dentistry. Since a crown covers the natural crown of a tooth, the crown's protection and fortification helps prevent future structural damages. Here are a few instances in which dental crowns are used and the types of crowns that maybe applied:

Dental Implants

Dental implants are devices that replace lost teeth. Each dental implant is actually a rod or screw that is embedded into the jaw bone. After the implant has sufficiently healed into place, a connector can be installed, followed by a dental crown.

Many dental crowns that are used for a single-tooth dental implant restorations are made from porcelain or porcelain-over-metal. This is largely due to the durability of the porcelain as well as its coloration. Porcelain is white like tooth enamel. In addition, it possesses a similar translucency that makes it difficult to distinguish from natural tooth material. Most people who decide to have a dental implant to replace a tooth want the final restoration to look as natural as possible.

Adult Cavities

Large adult cavities may also require dental crowns. Usually, a dentist removes the decayed material from the tooth and replaces it with a filling. However, when a cavity is deep or excessively large, additional fortification is needed to support the tooth. Thus, a dental crown may be required.

Tooth-colored crowns, such as those made of resin, porcelain-over-metal, or porcelain, are often selected and matched to the color of the patient's other teeth. However, in cases in which the tooth is not seen when a patient speaks or smiles, a metal crown may be used. Crowns made from metal alloy are frequently positioned over molars, offering the same support and protection as a tooth colored crown without the same level of expense.

Pediatric Cavities

A child's tooth may also develop significant dental cavities that require the use of a dental crown. However, since pediatric teeth will be lost and replaced by adult teeth, the expense of a tooth-colored crown is usually not recommended. Instead, a stainless steel crown is commonly used for a cavity that develops in a primary tooth.

The stainless steel crown does not require a mold to be made of the child's mouth. Instead, the metal is malleable and can be pressed into place around the compromised tooth.

To learn more about dental crowns and which ones may be suitable for your dental restoration, click here to investigate, or schedule an appointment with a dentist in your area.


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