In restorative dentistry, dental crown placement is one of the most common treatments performed. Dental crowns, also known as “caps”, are an excellent choice in helping to rejuvenate your smile. They are impressively long-lasting, natural looking, and simple to care for. Most crowns are custom made in a lab, to match your other healthy teeth and remain esthetically pleasing. There are even several options to choose from of which your dentist will help you decide among to find the best fit for your needs.
Types of dental crowns
There are three main types of dental crowns. Each type has pros and cons.
- “All metal” crowns are formed entirely out of metal. Gold is most common, and proves to be one of the strongest and best fitting crowns. A downside for some people is that the crown is not tooth colored, and depending on location, can be extremely obvious.
- “All ceramic” or porcelain crowns offer an impressively life-like appearance. Although they might not last as long as all-metal crowns, they are fairly easy to replace if needed.
- “Porcelain fused to metal” or PFM’s, are a hybrid between of metal and ceramic. With a thin layer of metal between your tooth and a ceramic outer crown, PFM’s can provide more stability while still offering a tooth-colored restoration. However, since there is a layer of metal, you may not achieve the same appearance as porcelain, since the metal may become visible over time.
Uses of dental crowns
Occasionally, tooth decay can create a severe problem that cannot be repaired with a simple filling. In these cases, a crown will often be placed over the tooth after the filling is placed to protect it from further damage. Also, after root canal therapy, crowns are used as the final phase of treatment to restore the tooth’s function and look. When coupled with a dental implant, a dental crown can even serve as a more durable, more lifelike replacement tooth than a dental bridge.
ABOUT YOUR FUQUAY VARINA DENTIST:
For over 15 years, Dr. Michele Collier and the talented professionals at Waterstone Family Dentistry have provided comfortable, compassionate dental care to patients of all ages from Fuquay Varina, NC, as well as Holly Springs, Angier, Willow Springs, Raleigh, and all surrounding communities. If you’d like to learn more, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Collier by calling (919) 557-5250 today.
