What You Should Know About Porcelain Crowns
What You Should Know About Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain Crowns are essentially artificial teeth coverings that are custom-made to cover a damaged tooth. Also referred to by many people in the industry as ‘caps,’ these crowns are designed to preserve teeth and/or restore their previous functionality and appearance. They can be used to cover a broken or chipped tooth, as well as hide a tooth that has been irreversibly damaged by excessive tooth decay. For the most part, porcelain crowns are the most popular choice of dental solution for tooth protection. Crowns are often used on patients whose teeth necessitate added assistance structure-wise and long-term protection for cavity fillings.
What You Should Know About Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain Crowns are essentially artificial teeth coverings that are custom-made to cover a damaged tooth. Also referred to by many people in the industry as ‘caps,’ these crowns are designed to preserve teeth and/or restore their previous functionality and appearance. They can be used to cover a broken or chipped tooth, as well as hide a tooth that has been irreversibly damaged by excessive tooth decay. For the most part, porcelain crowns are the most popular choice of dental solution for tooth protection. Crowns are often used on patients whose teeth necessitate added assistance structure-wise and long-term protection for cavity fillings.
Porcelain crowns are placed over the damaged tooth with the use of a dental adhesive. Compared to other types of crowns, such as metal-ceramic crowns and gold alloy crowns, porcelain crowns are more conservative and a more convenient choice for providing protection to damaged and weakened teeth. Their color and strength make them superb for reviving dull-looking teeth and maintaining their new appearance.
Aside from covering broken and discolored teeth, porcelain crowns also serve to keep dental bridges stable and protect dental implants from destabilization, which can lead to pain and more dental work.
Here are some facts about porcelain implants that you should know before thinking about getting them installed.
- The process of having a porcelain crown fitted into your tooth/teeth calls for at least two appointments with your dentist. During your initial visit, the tooth for fitting is prepared by being cleaned and improving its retention of the crown. Once that’s done, a mold or impression is made for it. Once prepared, the tooth is then covered with a temporary crown. During your second visit, the temporary crown is removed and replaced by the final crown for fitting and cementing.
- Fabrication time for porcelain crowns in the laboratory typically takes a week or two due to the required time it takes to build multiple layers of enamel. New advancements in technology however have allowed us dentists to craft the porcelain crowns while patients wait. These technologies, which make use of 3D imaging and digital radiography, allow dentists and technicians to design the restoration crown through computer software. Once complete, the crown design is then forwarded to a computerized mill for carving.
- Compared to other crowns made from metal-ceramic and gold alloy materials, porcelain crowns are the closest thing to natural teeth in terms of look and feel. Porcelain has an almost translucent quality to it, very similar to how natural teeth with enamel look. Nonetheless, the type of crown for your dental needs will largely depend on your situation and dentist’s advice. Each type of crown has its benefits for specific situations.
- Porcelain crowns, though not as durable as metal and gold crowns, are still incredibly long-lasting, especially when they are flossed and brushed with care. Crowns of this material could last well beyond 20 years if well taken care of. In many ways, they need to be taken care of just as you would your regular teeth.
