In the past few decades, dental advancement has offered new and exciting options to brighten our smile, replace teeth, repair dental decay with tooth colored materials and improve our smile with less effort than ever before. But one process that has been around for many years and is still in use today is dental crowns.
When a tooth breaks a crown can save the tooth from being lost. Or when dental decay has ravaged a tooth beyond repair with a filling, a dental crown can save the tooth.
For teeth that are viable on the inside, but suffering from external problems, a dental crown allows the patient to save their tooth and the final restoration is virtually undetectable.
There are different types of crowns and different materials can be used to make a . For a tooth located in the smile line, a porcelain crown might be recommended. A porcelain crown is very natural in appearance, but might not be the best choice for a back tooth that sustains the most chewing pressure.
A gold or metal crown for a back tooth offers the strongest material. A metal crown can have a porcelain cover offering a more natural appearance than a gold crown.
Most dental crowns are fabricated at a dental lab. During the time it takes for the lab to complete your new crown, a temporary restoration is placed over the tooth that has been prepared. Remembering that this is just temporary is important. Be careful when flossing so as not to pop the temporary off and try to chew on the other side, if possible. If the temporary should be loose or come off, contact your dentist as soon as possible.
Whether your new crown is made of gold, metal or porcelain or is an onlay or inlay, the care of your dental crown is as simple as daily flossing and brushing teeth at least twice per day. Vigilant hygiene for dental crowns as well as the rest of our teeth is important to keep smile healthy and good looking for a lifetime.
For further assistance in caring for your dental crowns or to find out if this is an option for you, call our office, serving Highlands Ranch and surrounding areas, today at our office to schedule your consultation.