Dental crowns …

To know in detail about the dental crowns we need to divide the topic in to many subtopics .

Dental crowns – The basics.

• What is a dental crown? / Why are they placed?
• Types of dental crowns (ceramic / porcelain-metal / gold).
• What’s the difference between a crown and porcelain veneer?
• How do crowns strengthen teeth?

Dental crowns – The process.

• What procedure does a dentist use to make and place crowns?
• Wearing the temporary dental crown.

Essential Things to know about a dental Crown.

• 6 things to consider when having a dental crown made.
• How much do crowns cost (gold / ceramic / porcelain-metal)?
• How long can a dental crown last?
• Alternatives to dental crowns.
• What to do if your dental crown comes off.

We shall see about these topics one by one and divide the articles in to many parts for better Understanding. Lets start …

What are dental crowns?

Crowns are a type of dental restoration which, when cemented into place, fully cup over the portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line. In comparison, fillings are dental restorations that fill in or cover over just a portion of a tooth. Since dental crowns encase the entire visible aspect of a tooth, a dental crown in effect becomes the tooth’s new outer surface.

Crowns can be made out of porcelain (meaning some sort of dental ceramic), metal (a gold or other metal alloy), or a combination of both. Other terms that are used to refer to dental crowns are “dental caps” and “tooth caps.”

WHATS THE NEED OF DENTAL CROWN ??

3 basic reasons are :

Restoring the original shape of the tooth.

Strengthning the tooth

Improved apperance of the tooth .

Porcelain dental crowns to improve the cosmetic appearance of teeth.

As a dental crown serves to cup over and encase the visible portion of a tooth, any dental crown that has a porcelain surface can be used as a means to idealize the cosmetic appearance of a tooth. Possibly you have heard it rumored (especially in past decades) that certain movie stars have had their teeth “capped.” This simply means that the person has obtained their “Hollywood smile” by way of having dental crowns placed.

Actually, getting your teeth “capped” just to improve their cosmetic appearance can at times be a very poor choice. Dental crowns are best utilized as a way to improve the cosmetic appearance of a tooth when the crown simultaneously serves other purposes also, such as restoring a tooth to its original shape (repairing a broken tooth) or strengthening a tooth (covering over a tooth that has a very large filling).

In general, a dental crown probably should not be used as a means to improve the appearance of a tooth if there is any other alternative dental treatment that could equally satisfactorily achieve the same cosmetic results. This is because a dentist must grind a significant portion of a tooth away when a dental crown is made. If a more conservative dental procedure could equally well improve the tooth’s appearance, such as a porcelain veneer, dental bonding, or even just teeth whitening, then it is usually best to consider that treatment option first.

Dental crowns to restore a tooth’s shape and strength.

When a dental crown is made the dental laboratory technician can visualize and examine all aspects of your bite and jaw movements, from a variety of angles, and then sculpt your dental crown so it has the perfect anatomy. In comparison, when a dentist places a dental filling they have far less control over the final outcome of the shape of your tooth because it is often difficult for them to visualize, evaluate, and access to the tooth on which they are working.

When a dental crown is made the dental laboratory technician can visualize and examine all aspects of your bite and jaw movements, from a variety of angles, and then sculpt your dental crown so it has the perfect anatomy. In comparison, when a dentist places a dental filling they have far less control over the final outcome of the shape of your tooth because it is often difficult for them to visualize, evaluate, and access to the tooth on which they are working.

End of part 1