Dentists use dental crowns to restore the appearance and functionality of damaged teeth. A dental crown protects, repairs, and improves your smile.
If your dentist recommends a crown for your tooth, you may be unsure which type of dental crown is best for you. Ask your dentist, ‘what is a dental crown?’ and which procedure you should undergo to receive your dental crown.
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a tooth-coloured, gold, silver, or metal cap that seals over a damaged tooth. Dental crowns are fabricated from metals, ceramics, porcelain, and composite resin. A dentist can also customise crowns to match the shade of your natural teeth.
Once in place, a dental crown completely conceals the natural tooth behind it. Among the benefits of dental crowns are strengthening weak teeth, preventing them from breaking, and restoring their biting and chewing functions.
Often, dental crowns are used after root canal therapy to reinforce and protect the tooth. Placing a dental crown over crooked, stained, damaged, or discoloured teeth can give them a natural look.
What is a Dental Crown: Types of Dental Crowns
If you want to know ‘what is a dental crown’, you need to understand the different dental crowns available. Dental crowns come in various sizes and shapes, depending on the materials used and the needs of the patient. Among the most common types of dental crowns are:
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Full crowns
A full crown completely covers the tooth being restored.
These types of dental crowns can closely match your natural tooth in size, shape, and function for optimal restoration.
They can improve the appearance of a tooth that is significantly discoloured, malformed, or aesthetically compromised.
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Onlays
The onlay is a customised restoration covering part of the tooth’s cusps. They are often referred to as partial dental crowns. Onlays can be used when there is enough tooth structure left to support them. For instance, if a tooth only has partial tooth decay in the middle of it, you may need onlays.
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Inlays
Compared to an onlay that only covers parts of the tooth’s cusps, the inlay fills the area of the tooth between the cusps. An inlay prevents food and other microbes from getting under the filling and causing it to deteriorate further.
Dental Crown Materials
Dental crowns can be made of various materials, providing you with more options than ever before. At No Gaps Dental, we offer the convenience of same-day CEREC custom crowns. From their durability and endurance to their aesthetics, you and your dentist can find a dental restoration solution that meets your needs.
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Ceramic
Ceramic crowns are custom-made and coloured to match your teeth, creating a unique dental crown that improves your smile. Because they do not contain metal, they are safe for anyone with metal allergies or sensitivities.
They can resist everyday wear and tear. They are an excellent option if you’re looking for a metal-free solution that gives natural results. All-ceramic crowns last roughly 15 years on average.
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Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM)
Porcelain-fused-metal (PFM) crowns are made of porcelain covering a thin metal shell. Like ceramic dental crowns, they are durable and give your teeth a natural appearance. The metal shell protects the tooth even if the porcelain is damaged. A properly cared-for porcelain crown can last up to 25 years.
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Gold alloy
A gold alloy dental crown is very strong and long-lasting since it is made from gold alloy. Since they can endure the heavy bite force and grinding activity, they are commonly placed on the molars at the back of the mouth.
You can extend the life of your gold crown by brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist frequently. If you follow regular dental care, your gold crown may last up to 25 years or even longer.
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Composite resin
Composite resin dental crowns are crafted from composite resin. It is a type of plastic known as acrylic resin, strengthened with various ceramic components. These crowns are not constructed from metal, and they can be coloured to match the natural teeth. Additionally, they protect the tooth’s remaining structure from fracture and temperature changes.
What are the Types of Dental Crown Procedures?
Depending on your needs and the extent of your dental problem, your dentist can recommend the appropriate dental crown procedure. A typical dental crown procedure can take a couple of dental appointments. The CEREC crown procedure takes only one visit using CAD/CAM technology, reducing the number of dental appointments.
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Conventional crowns
The first step in a conventional dental procedure is to remove part of the tooth’s outer layer.
The crown will have the same thickness as the layer your dentist removes. Your dentist takes an impression is taken of the tooth by the dentist and sent to a dental laboratory for crown fabrication. Dental crowns may take up to two weeks to prepare at the laboratory.
The dentist may give you a temporary dental crown to get you through until your permanent crown is ready.
Once your dentist receives the permanent dental crown from the laboratory, you will need to return for another appointment for them to cement it in place.
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CEREC crowns
Patients at No Gaps Dental can choose to have CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC) dental crowns made on-site. Using CAD/CAM technology, we take digital images of your teeth and use them to develop a precise model of the tooth.
When making your dental crown, you can choose a cement colour to match the shade of your natural teeth. We can mill them with our milling machine so they can be placed on the same day.
Restore Your Smile With No Gaps Dental
To find out more about dental crowns, schedule an appointment at one of our 15 dental centres in Sydney today. Contact us on (02) 8806 0227 for an appointment, or use our online appointment form.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Dental crown procedure
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dental-crown-procedure
Dental treatment
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/dental-treatment
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns versus All-ceramic Crowns: A Review of the Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK304697/
The up to 25-year survival and clinical performance of 2,340 high gold-based metal-ceramic single crowns
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23476910/