Types of Dental Crowns
What is a dental crown?
All hail the king! (Or tooth). Dental crowns are essential tools used to help improve your smile and strengthen your teeth. If you need a dental crown, the team at Brightwork Family Dentistry will work with you to determine the best option and craft a crown that will align perfectly with your smile. Your crown can be installed at our Richmond, VA office during your appointment, and we will schedule a follow-up appointment if needed to check on your tooth’s progress.
Dental crowns are caps shaped like teeth that are put over weak, broken, or decayed teeth. The crown fits snugly. Often, to ensure a perfect fit, your dentist will remove a small amount of enamel before installing the crown. Crowns are usually made of resin, metal, or porcelain.
When Do You Need a Crown?
Your dentist at Brightwork Dental will recommend a crown based on an exam and your specific case. During your appointment at our Richmond Office, Dr. Crowley or Dr. Iachini will examine your teeth and decide if a crown can help improve your smile or if it may be part of a larger whole-mouth or partial-mouth rehabilitation.
Crowns can help with several things, including:
Holding a dental bridge in place
Completing a root canal treatment
Covering a severely discolored tooth
Restoring a worn or broken down tooth
Protecting a cracked tooth
Covering a dental implant
Adding strength to a weakened tooth
“Crowns are a great way to restore the form and function of a tooth when there has been a loss of structural integrity. It is a routine procedure that has predictable, long term results.” Says Dr. Crowley.
Types of Dental Crowns
Depending on your specific case, several types of dental crowns can be used. Dr. Crowley specializes in mouth rehabilitation and building beautiful smiles and will recommend the crown that best suits your needs.
Metal Crowns
These crowns are typically made of gold. They are durable, rarely break, or sustain other damage. These crowns last incredibly long and don’t require a large amount of enamel removal to be placed. Metal is a good option because it can also withstand strong chewing and biting forces.
However, metal is not natural looking and may draw attention to your smile in a way you don’t want. Talking with your dentist during your appointment can help determine if this is the right option.
Porcelain Crowns
Made to look like your teeth, porcelain crowns are perfect for larger mouth rehabilitations or where the crown may be noticeable. They also work well for individuals who may have a metal allergy.
Lab technicians can use different materials to make ceramic crowns, but they often use zirconium oxide. This material can withstand heavier bite forces and is gentle on surrounding teeth, resulting in less enamel wear.
Resin Crowns
Resin crowns are a cost-conscious option but have the shortest life span. On average, a resin crown will last two to three years. Sometimes, the dentists in our Richmond office may recommend a resin crown as a temporary fix before replacing it with another crown material.
“Crowns can be used selectively, to restore one or a few teeth at a time. Or they can be used to when most or all of the teeth need to be repaired. While the complexity of such cases may vary, the fundamentals elements that make these restorations a long term solution remain the same.” Explains Dr. Crowley.
Knowing which crown is right for your smile is based on personal preference and the professional advice of your dentist. If you have questions about crowns, ask during your appointment or contact us online.