Crowns are one of the most common restorative procedures that are performed at the dentist. They have many different uses and can be fabricated out of an array of materials. Read on in the blog from Tranquility Dental Arts to find out what dental crowns are for, what different types exist, and which is right for you.
Why Would I Need a Dental Crown?
Dental crowns are protective caps that cover all of the surfaces of a broken, weakened, or vulnerable tooth. A crown is a restorative treatment that holds a broken tooth together, adds durability and strength to a weakened tooth, and prevents the tooth from becoming more damaged from chewing forces.
A crown may be recommended after root canal therapy, if you have a large filling, a severe tooth fracture, or if you have cosmetic concerns with your tooth. Crowns are also placed to anchor dental bridges and complete dental implant restorations.
Lab-Made Crowns
A lab-made crown is a dental crown that is fabricated by an outside dental lab after taking impressions and digital scans of your teeth and sending them to the lab to use as a model from your custom-made crown.
You can select from various materials such as porcelain, metal, ceramic, zirconia, gold, or a mix of materials. Lab-made crowns are better suited for teeth that require extra protection and strength, especially in the rear molars.
Crown fabrication can take a few weeks which is why we give you a temporary crown to wear in the meantime. At the next appointment, the temporary crown is removed and the official lab-made crown is cemented to the tooth. These crowns last for 5 to 15 years.
CEREC Same-Day Crowns
Some dental offices have advanced technology such as CEREC technology which enables them to perform same-day crowns. A CEREC crown is designed and fabricated all in one appointment using computer-aided design & computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), 3D scanners, and 3D printers.
Using this special software, a dental office can take impressions of your teeth and place them into software that will create a hyper-realistic 3D model of your teeth. This is then used to mill a dental crown out of a block of ceramic.
This is a much faster and more convenient alternative to lab-made crowns, cutting out long waiting times, outside dental labs, and additional appointments. However, CEREC crowns can only be fabricated out of ceramic materials which creates limitations on their suitability for teeth that need a lot of protection. However, these are ideal for aesthetic crowns that are being used to cover up cosmetic imperfections at the front of the mouth.
FIND OUT WHICH DENTAL CROWNS ARE RIGHT FOR YOU IN PLACENTIA
At Tranquility Dental Arts, we offer lab-made crowns that can prevent further breakage and offer long-lasting protection for your tooth. Contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Nguyen in Placentia to find out which crown materials are right for you.