Benefits of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are essentially caps placed over weak teeth to keep them protected. These prosthetics can be made out of porcelain, gold or silver and are shaped in such a way that they resemble a real tooth.

When are crowns used?

Decay and accidents can lead to weakened teeth that may require crowns. Apart from this, capping may also be used when patients have large fillings put inside their projection and there is not enough teeth left to keep that filling in place.

The various benefits of Dental Crowns:

These devices have several benefits. Here are some of the most important:

• Ceramic and porcelain dental crowns are custom matched to the existing tooth color of the patient and are designed exclusively for the patient’s smile. This helps in achieving an esthetically pleasing, accurate result.
• When cemented properly, such ceramic restorations encase the whole misshapen or badly discolored teeth, thereby offering a sparkling, bright smile.
• Crowns are utilized to cover dental implants and to work together with the existing natural teeth comfortably.
• They tend to act as protective covers, securing an already weak tooth from any further damage.
• The biggest advantage is that such capping feel, look, and function like a person’s natural teeth and restore the overall bite strength, in turn enhancing the patient’s ability to bite anything comfortably.
• If created correctly, dental crowns assist the lower and upper teeth to meet properly and maintain a proper bite.

Who is the right candidate?

• These crowns are apt for those patients who have severely damaged teeth or suffer from discolored or yellow teeth.
• People, who have a tendency of grinding their teeth or have a hard time chewing the food comfortably can benefit from crowns immensely.
• Dental crowns are the best alternative to extracting a loose, cracked or chipped tooth or replacing it with a fake tooth.
• People who have undergone root canal treatment will require a dental crown. Patients with particularly large fillings might need a crown to protect their major teeth.
• Patients who have lost their projections to periodontal disease or traumatic injury can be treated with crowns together with dental bridges and dental implants.
• Crowns may be recommended only if the patient has good oral health and dental structure to support the dental crown. Healthy gums have the ability to anchor crowns firmly in place and ensure an effective cementation of the capping.

The Procedure:

Crowns involve two main steps:

First, the dental expert removes a thin layer of the enamel from the patient’s tooth to fix a crown. Neighboring teeth are also prepared in a similar manner. An impression of the tooth structure is then made and the capping is prepared in a laboratory. Meanwhile, temporary crowns are fixed for a few weeks. Once the permanent capping has been created, the temporary crown is removed and a permanent crown is cemented.

Crowns normally last for a good duration of time. If the patient maintains proper oral hygiene, crowns can last for as long as ten to fifteen years. Once this period is reached, they may need to be replaced. Crowns may also need replacing because of problems such as dental decay, wear and tear, or inappropriate fitting because of placement.

The typical cost of a crown in California varies from clinic to clinic. The price depends on the kind of material used. Porcelain or ceramic crowns are costlier in comparison to metal crowns. The fee the dental surgeon charges, screening costs, and the like can also add to the total amount significantly.