If you’ve been looking at before and after dental crowns pictures, you’re probably in awe at the ‘miracles’ these handy dental ‘caps’ can achieve.
Many people are unaware of the versatility of dental crowns and the number of dental problems they can fix. Indeed, dental crowns do not stand out in any way. They are meticulously crafted and colour matched to a person’s surrounding teeth, so they blend seamlessly into the smile. A dental crown will produce a beautiful looking smile, whether you require a protective barrier, restoration, or cosmetic solution.
So, what is a dental crown exactly?
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that a dentist places over a damaged, decayed, or unsightly tooth to restore both aesthetics and function.
When cemented in place, a dental crown encases the tooth’s visible part that extends from the top to the gum line.
If you’re wondering how your smile appears before and after dental crowns, it looks the same, only better! When placed by an experienced dentist, dental crowns are hard to distinguish from natural teeth. In other words, your smile won’t look fake.
Who is a candidate for a dental crown?
Dental crowns are exceptionally versatile and can be used in the following situations, to:
- Protect and support a tooth that has been heavily filled and has little natural tooth structure remaining
- Restore a badly worn down or broken tooth
- Strengthen a tooth weakened by decay to prevent it from breaking, or in the case of a cracked tooth, hold the parts together
- Cover misshapen or discoloured teeth
- Strengthen a tooth weakened after root canal therapy
- Make a cosmetic modification
- Hold a dental bridge in place
- Cover a dental implant
To sum up, a dental crown restores shape and size, strengthens, and improves appearance.
What are the different types of dental crowns?
If you’ve looked at the hundreds of before and after dental crowns photos available on the internet, you may have noticed that there are several types of dental crowns. Some are more obvious than others, for example, crowns made from gold.
There are four main types of dental crowns:
All-ceramic or all-porcelain
This type of dental crown is the most natural-looking crown and is an excellent choice for a front tooth. While it doesn’t have the strength of an all-metal crown, it will take several years before replacement is necessary. Other advantages of a ceramic crown include:
- Suitable for people with allergies to metal
- Can be matched to the natural tooth colour
All-resin
These crowns tend to cost less than most other dental crowns but are less durable and more prone to fracture
Porcelain fused to metal
These are second in strength only to all-metal crowns. The downside to this type of dental crown is that it is thicker than those we’ve mentioned above and requires more tooth enamel to be removed for a proper fit. However, they have been proven to last for up to 25 years and work well on back molars because of their strength.
Gold crowns
While these crowns are technically called gold crowns, they contain a combination of gold, copper, and other metal alloys. The downside is they are visible because they don’t match the colour of the teeth. They do provide several benefits, however.
What’s involved in the dental crown procedure?
Traditionally a dental crown procedure involves two dental visits. The first visit is to examine and prepare the tooth, and the second visit is to install the crown.
Typically the dentist will take a few x-rays of the tooth to assess the condition of the tooth roots and the bone surrounding the crown before going ahead with the dental crown procedure.
To prepare a tooth for a crown, the dentist reshapes the tooth’s surface and sides to accommodate the crown. The amount of tooth enamel removed depends on the type of crown to be used. If a large area of tooth structure is missing, the dentist may have to build it up with filling material to support the crown. After shaping the tooth, dental putty is used to create a mould for the lab that is making the custom crown, or a digital scanner may be used.
To ensure your bite is not adversely affected, impressions may also be taken of the teeth above and below the tooth.
If a patient is receiving a porcelain dental crown, the dentist will also select a shade that matches the surrounding teeth. Finally, patients are fitted with a temporary crown while waiting a few weeks for their permanent crown to be made.
So far, we’ve talked about the procedure for traditional dental crowns, but here at No Gaps Dental, we’ve invested in CEREC technology which makes short work of getting a dental crown.
Whilst the procedure remains the same to the point of tooth preparation. CEREC crowns are designed, milled, and installed on the same day, eliminating the need for temporary crowns and return visits to the dentist.
After the dental crown procedure
It generally takes a few days to recover following the dental crown procedure. You may experience minor sensitivity, inflammation, and irritation, which should subside after a week or two. To reduce any swelling, patients are advised to use warm salt water rinses several times a day. Over-the-counter painkillers should help ease any gum pain. It’s also important to avoid chewing gum and eat soft foods for a few days while the cement hardens on your dental crowns.
So now you have a better understanding of before and after dental crowns, are you ready to restore your smile?
Want to know more?
Why not schedule an appointment with the experienced dental team at No Gaps and see if you’re a candidate for CEREC crowns.
References
Quintessence Publishing – The up to 25-year survival and clinical performance of 2,340 high gold-based-metal-ceramic single crowns
Colgate – Gold tooth crown facts and history
NCBI – CEREC CAD/CAM Chairside System