28 Mar 2023 We know that smile is that pretty curve which heals you from within and everyone around you. There might be situations that ends up vanquishing the glamour of your smile. In such cases you need to go through several dental treatments in order to restore the radiance and beauty of your smile.
Do you know that dental crowns are used in order to restore the damaged teeth and place the teeth in a proper order? Today in this article we would be going through everything related to dental crowns. Before that you need to get a very basic thing clear in your mind what are dental crowns.
What Are Dental Crowns?
As mentioned earlier before knowing anything about dental crowns you need to know what is a dental crown. Dental crowns are the caps that are placed on the top of a damaged tooth. These crowns are used in order to protect, give coverage and also helps in restoring the shape of your teeth. The dental crowns are used when fillings do not end up solving the problems.
With the passage of time your teeth might get damaged due to numerous reasons, your teeth might get damaged due to tooth decaying, or due to any kind of injuries or it might just get damaged due to over time. Dental crowns are used when your teeth ends up losing the shapes and sizes.
Dental crowns are tooth shaped caps that are placed over your teeth, these dental crowns are made out of metals, porcelain, resin and ceramics. The dental tooth looks like a snug hat which you have gifted to your teeth.
The dental crowns are made up of metals, porcelain, resin and ceramics. They typically don’t require special care over time other than regular good oral hygiene. Dental crowns are used in restoring the shape of the teeth, size, strength and appearance. The dental crowns are cemented into place on your tooth and it covers the visible portion of the tooth.
Now that you have known what these dental crowns are, you should also know the requirement and need for these dental crowns.
What Is The Need Of Dental Crown?
The requirement and need for dental crown is due to several reasons including:
#1. Dental crowns are used in order to protect a weakened tooth a tooth. A tooth might go through the process of decaying due to various reasons. Hence in order to restore the weakened teeth dental implant is used to work on the parts of the broken teeth or cracked teeth.
#2. Dental crowns are also used for restoring a broken tooth or for those teeth that are severely worn down.
#3. Covering and supporting a tooth with a large filling and not much tooth remaining.
#4. For holding a dental bridge in place.
#5. Covering the misshapen or those teeth that are severely discolored.
#6. Covering a dental implant.
#7. Dental crowns are also used for covering a tooth that’s been treated with a root canal.
You have got to know why there is a need for dental crown you should also know who requires these dental crown.
Who Needs A Crown?
Those who are suffering from large cavities then in that situation dental filling won’t work. In such cases dental crown is required to fix the problem. Other than that your teeth also requires crowing if they are severely worn down, cracked or weakened.
Other than that dental crowing’s are also recommended after the process of root canal is done, as because during this situation the tooth is more fragile and it also needs an extra care and protection too.
If you are having a missing tooth during such a situation your dentist would recommend for a dental crown. In such a situation your dentist would recommend you for dental bridge or for a tooth implant.
What Is The Cost Of Dental Crown?
The ranges of the dental crowns is from $800 to $1,500. This could be even more. The cost of the dental crown depends on the type of material which is used in making of the crown and other than it the price of the dental crown also depends on the size of the tooth.
Usually all-metal crowns, are made out of a metal alloy, are sometimes cheaper than gold or porcelain crowns.
Costs of the dental crown may also rise if the dentist has to perform more extensive preparation work before they put the crown. At times patient needs might need a root canal or a dental implant and both of this procedure needs to be performed at the same time, and both of which can drive the price up. Before choosing for the crown you need to have a talk with your dentist about the different types of crowns that are available and which one is the appropriate one for your dental requirement.
What Are Onlays And 3/4 Crowns?
There are several different types of crowns which are used for your teeth. Onlays and 3/4 crowns are two types of dental crowns that do not cover as much of your underlying tooth as compared to traditional dental crowns. Whereas on the other hand a traditional crown is the one which will cover your entire tooth.
Onlays and 3/4 crowns might be the appropriate one to choose for when you still have a solid tooth structure. It’s considered a more conservative approach compared to full coverage of your crown. In this procedure, your dentist removes the affected area and performs a reshaping of the tooth to receive the crown.
Now that you have known what are the types of crowns you also know what are these dental crowns made up of.
What Are Dental Crowns Made Out Of?
The permanent dental crowns are made out of several different types of materials. Some of the materials with which the dental crowns are made of is mentioned below.
#1. Metal:
Permanent dental crowns are made out of several different types of metals. These metals could include gold, palladium, nickel and chromium. Metal crowns are the ones who are rarely chip or break, these types of dental crowns also last the longest in terms of wear down and only require a small amount of your tooth to be removed. The metal crowns can also withstand biting and chewing forces too. The metallic color is the main drawback of this type of crown. Metal crowns are a good choice for out-of-sight molars.
#2. Porcelain-fused-to-metal:
This type of dental crown is matched with the color of the teeth which is next to the crown. These type dental crown are more natural than the tooth color. However, sometimes the metal under the crown’s porcelain cap shows through as a dark line. Other cons include the chance of the crown’s porcelain portion chipping or breaking off and the crown wearing down the teeth opposite it within the mouth.
This wear on the other teeth specifically affects the teeth that come into contact with the crown on the top and bottom of your mouth when it’s closed. Porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns can be a good choice for front or back teeth.
#3. All-resin:
The dental crowns which are made out of resin are generally less expensive in comparison to other crowns. Though these types of crowns are the less expensive ones but they wear down over time and they are more likely to break than compared to porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
#4. All-ceramic or all-porcelain:
If you are the one who is allergic to any kind of metal then in that case these types of dental crowns would work. These types of dental crowns provide the best natural color match compared to any other crown type.
However, these dental crowns are not as strong as porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. They can also wear down the teeth which is opposite them in the mouth a little more than metal or resin crowns. But All-ceramic crowns are a good choice for your front teeth.
#5. Pressed ceramic:
These type of dental crowns have a harder inner core. Pressed ceramic dental crowns replace the metal liner which is used in the all-ceramic crown-making process. Pressed ceramic crowns are capped with porcelain, which provides the best natural color match. They’re also more long-lasting than compared to an all-porcelain crown.
So these were the different types of the dental crowns one could opt for, now you should also know that how your tooth is prepared before the dental crown.
How Is The Tooth Prepared For A Dental Crown?
Before the procedure of dental crown starts you typically have two visits to the dentist in order to prepare for a dental crowning. While in some cases, you may have a dental crown made in your dentist’s office.
During the first visit:
During the time of first visit, the tooth that is going to receive the crown gets examined and is prepared. X-rays are taken of the tooth and the bone surrounding the tooth. Your dentist might have to do a root canal treatment before your dental crown procedure if there’s any:
Risk of infection.
Injury to the tooth’s pulp. Pulp is the soft tissue inside your teeth that contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue.
The tooth which is receiving the crown will be filed down across the top and sides. Doing this will make space for the crown itself. The amount of tooth that gets filed away depends on the type of crown that is going to get fitted. All-metal dental crowns are thinner and don’t need as much of the tooth removed as all-porcelain or porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. If too much of your tooth is missing this could be due to damage or decay then during this case a filling material can be used in order to “build up” enough tooth structure for the crown to cover.
After reshaping the tooth is done, a paste or putty is used to make a copy of the tooth that is going to receive the crown. Impressions of the teeth above and below the tooth that’s getting the dental crown will also be made. This is done in order to make sure that the crown will not affect your bite.
The impressions are then sent to a dental laboratory. The laboratory which makes the crowns and usually returns them to the dentist’s office in two to three weeks. During the time of first office visit, your dentist will make a temporary crown in order to cover and protect the prepared tooth while you are waiting on the permanent crown.
During the second visit:
While the time of second visit, the permanent crown gets placed on your tooth. First, the temporary crown is removed and the fittings and color of the permanent crown is checked. If everything is okay, a local anesthetic is sometimes used in order to numb the tooth and the new crown gets permanently cemented in the place.
What Problems Can Develop With A Dental Crown?
There are several issues that you might experience over time with your crown, some of the discomforts are discussed below:
#1. Discomfort or sensitivity:
A newly crowned tooth might be sensitive immediately after the procedure is completed as because the anesthesia begins to wear off. If the crowned tooth still has got a nerve in it, you may experience some heat and cold sensitivity during that time.
During this situation your dentist might recommend that you brush your teeth with toothpaste which is designed for sensitive teeth. Pain or sensitivity that happens when you bite down usually means that the crown is too high on the tooth and due to this reason it gives an uncomfortable feeling. If this is the case, call your dentist to fix the problem.
#2. Chipped crown:
Crowns made of all porcelain can sometimes chip. Small chips can be repaired and the crown can still remain into your mouth. The dental crown may need to be replaced if the chip is large or it can also be replaced when there are many chips.
#3. Loose crown:
Sometimes, the cement that holds the crown on can wash out from under the crown. Not only does this allow the crown to become loose, it allows leads the bacteria to leak in and cause decaying to the tooth that remains. If your crown feels loose then in that case you need to contact with your dentist in order to get the problem fixed.
#4. Crown falls off:
A dental crown can actually fall off. Whenever any such situation like this happens, it occurs usually due to an improper fit or a lack of cement. If any such situation happens to you like this, then you should immediately reach out to your dentist’s office.
#5. Allergic reaction:
The metals used for make dental crowns are often a mixture of several metals. You can have an allergic reaction to the metal or porcelain that is used for maling the dental crown. However, this occurs very rarely.
#6. Dark line on crowned tooth next to the gum line:
You might see a dark line which is next to the gum line of your crowned tooth. This is normal particularly if you have a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown. This dark line is simply the metal of the crown showing through.
#7. Gum disease:
If you notice that your gums around your crown are getting sore or irritated, or if this area starts to bleed, then you might be developing gingivitis, or any kind of gum disease.
How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
On average, dental crowns last between five and 15 years. The life span of a crown can depend on the amount of “wear and tear” the crown is exposed to. The life space of the dental crown also depends on how well you are following oral hygiene practices and personal mouth-related habits. These mouth-related habits can include things like:
#a. grinding or clenching your teeth.
#b. chewing ice.
#c. biting your fingernails.
#d. using your teeth to open packaging.
Does A Crowned Tooth Require Any Special Care?
Well, a crowned tooth does not requires any special care. However, the underlying tooth still needs to be protected and requires case as they can face tooth decaying or gum diseases. Because of this, you should continue to follow good oral hygiene practices. The good oral practices includes brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day especially around the crown area where the gum meets your tooth. Other than that you should also, avoid biting on hard surfaces with porcelain crowns in order to prevent cracking the porcelain.
What Are There Alternatives To Dental Crowns?
There are several alternatives to dental crowns. If you want to improve discoloration, then veneers are the best option. Veneers are thin layers which are fixed onto the front surface of a tooth. If your tooth is chipped, then in that case your dentist may also try to rebuild your tooth structure using filling material.
FAQ’s:
By now you have known almost everything related to the dental crown, below discussed are the few questions related to dental crowning.
#1. How long do dental crowns last?
Around 5 to 15 years is the average lifespan of a dental crown. Dental crowns should last around 15 years if there is a proper maintenance. If patients take good care of the crown, they can last up to 30 years.
#2. Is it painful to get a crown?
Getting a crown should not hurt cause you may not fill any more pain or discomfort than a typical filling. Your dentist will make sure that they put a local numbing jelly on your teeth, gums and surrounding tissues, but there is usually an anesthetic injected as well, and during that time you might feel a small pinch.
#3. Can I eat after having a crown?
After the dental crowning procedure is done you only have to wait for 30 to 45 minutes before you eat anything. Though you might eat but you need to remember not to chew where your crown is even in the days following the procedure. It is better to eat soft foods during this time.
#4. Can you do a crown without a root canal?
Technically, you don’t always need a root canal treatment before you are getting a dental crown. Sometimes a dental crown improves the appearance of a stained or discolored tooth. While the dentist may stain the tooth’s enamel, the inside of the tooth isn’t compromised, and therefore a root canal isn’t necessary.
#5. What to avoid after getting a crown?
Avoid chewy or sticky foods, such as caramel, taffy, and gum. As these foods can grab and pull out the crown. Avoid chewing hard foods, such as granola, hard candy, and ice can lead to problems.
#6. What is the most natural crown?
Full porcelain dental crowns are still often the best option. Many people feel full porcelain offers the most lifelike appearance.
#7. What is cheaper than a crown?
Tooth extraction is generally the cheapest alternative to a dental crown although certainly the least desirable. The important thing is to choose what is right for you, and what falls under your budget.
#8. Can I get a filling instead of a crown?
Depending on the extent of tooth decay, your dentist might recommend either a cavity filling or dental crown. Dental crowns are typically used in order to treat severely damaged teeth, while filings generally treat minor tooth decay and damages.
#9. Is a permanent filling better than crown?
One of the most significant differences between crowns and fillings is that one protects the teeth significantly more than the other. Crowns can help in strengthening the teeth because they reinforce them. This is because they encase the tooth entirely. It can withstand force without the risk of being damaged.
#10. How do you clean under a crown?
Patients who have a dental crown as part of an implant should use a soft-bristled toothbrush for not less than twice a day. As for the type of toothpaste, it is important to select a non-abrasive formula. The individual needs to brush around and under the dental crown as much as possible.