The Ultimate Guide to Dental Crowns: Questions to ask your dentist

As dentistry progressed, different dental materials became available on the market. Each material has its own strengths and weaknesses, and your well-informed dentist is a great source for the latest, up-to-date recommendations. Traditionally, gold crowns were placed for their conservative tooth reduction, allowing optimal strength for very little tooth reduction. However, gold-coloured teeth seemed to have fallen out of fashion over time due to the colour. This leads us to the newer zirconia crowns, which are made with a tough material that has incredible strength. This does require a larger tooth reduction to fit the minimal thickness required, but the esthetic improvement is highly sought after. Then there is the layered porcelain crown, which can achieve unmatched esthetic results. Although strength isn’t as strong as gold or zirconia crowns, we can achieve unparalleled cosmetic results with layered porcelain crowns.

What are dental crowns?

A dental crown is a customized helmet, often referred to as a cap, that fits over your natural tooth structure. It is often used on heavily restored teeth in order to prevent fractures. It often involves two appointments. At the first appointment, the dentist will remove any unsound structures and have a temporary crown fitted over the tooth. The patient will then use their temporary crown and function on it to ensure optimal bite sensation. Once the patient is happy and no modification is required, a customized crown, made with the material agreed upon, will be permanently cemented at the second appointment. The customized crown will be made to mimic the function of the temporary crown to ensure that the permanent crown will also fit seamlessly.

Do I really need a crown?

Individuals who have very worn out, cracked, or fractured teeth also stand to benefit from the strength and durability the dental crowns would give themThere is often only so much we can do before the tooth can no longer support a filling. I like to compare it to a leaky roof. Once you patch out the whole roof, it is often time to replace it. Your dentist will explain the longevity of a crown vs. yet another large restoration. After they have been informed, the choice is always up to the patient.

One should consult with a dentist before getting a crown to determine if this is a correct solution for your particular dental problem.

What is the procedure of placing a crown on a tooth?

A dental crown requires maticulous planning. Before the start of the appointment, we will take a digital impression of your current dentition to map out the tooth and its relationship it has with its neighbours as well as opposing tooth. Then we will discuss the type of material that will work best for that location. Once agreed upon, the dentist will reduce the tooth and replace any structurally unsound parts. When the tooth is prepped to the proper size and shape it will be scanned and sent to a dental laboratory where a customized crown will be made. The patient will leave with a chair side customized temporary crown. This crown is then used in the patient’s day-to-day life to ensure proper bite and shape have been achieved. When we get the comfort approval from the patient, the permanent crown, which is made to the same dimension and bite relationship, will be cemented with a permanent cement.

Ok, now I have a crown, what do I have to look out for?

Since the crown sits on natural tooth structure, The tooth is still suspectable to dental decay and gum disease. Taking good care will require you to practice proper dental practices which should include brushing and flossing twice a day. By means of using soft bristled toothbrush and paste that is non-abrasive, tooths surface can be protected from damage. Moreover, regular dental check-ups and cleanings must be attended to keep the crown monitored Prevention of breakage of the crown can be achieved by avoiding hard or sticky foods and also by quitting habits like teeth grinding and chewing on objects that are not food. Please don’t open beer bottles with your teeth. If you have signs of bruxism, teeth grinding, a guard is often recommended to protect your teeth.