Crowns
Dental crowns are a common dental need and procedure.
The dentists at Skyway Dental Clinic are highly trained professionals that can explain why a crown is recommended for you and which crown options, including if a CEREC Same-Day crown, may be right for you. Call or make an appointment online if you suspect you may need a new crown or crown repair. Skyway Dental Clinic is conveniently located in Minneapolis.
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Crowns Q & A
A dental crown is also called a “cap.” It’s placed on top of a damaged tooth. It’s shaped and often colored to look like the natural tooth and can strengthen the tooth and restore its appearance. The crown fits over the tooth and is cemented or bonded into place so that the original tooth is completely encased.
The dentists at Skyway Dental Clinic may recommend a crown in a variety of situations. A crown can cover a strangely-shaped or dark tooth, or finish a dental implant.
In addition to making a natural tooth look better, a crown can provide support to a tooth. Crowns can strengthen teeth that are at risk of breaking or that have weakened as a result of large fillings.
Dental crowns can restore your smile’s beauty. They can also be a reliable, long-term solution for teeth that need strengthening as a result of severe decay, cracks, fractures, or fillings.
Dental crown construction has advanced over the years. Crowns can be fashioned out of many materials, including:
- Stainless steel
- Gold or another alloy
- Porcelain fused to metal
- Resin
- Ceramic
The choice of material depends on multiple factors. For instance, stainless steel is the most common material for temporary crowns. Stainless steel crowns are incredibly durable. Prefabricated stainless steel crowns are commonly used for children who need crowns on baby teeth.
Metal crowns are durable and able to tolerate the impact of biting and chewing, but due to their color, they’re commonly reserved for rear molars.
Porcelain fused to metal crowns looks more like natural teeth than metal crowns but have some drawbacks. For example, the opposing teeth may suffer more wear and tear than they would with other types of crowns. The metal portion of the crown might also be visible as a dark line near the gums.
All-resin crowns are more affordable, which makes them an appealing choice for many patients, but they’re also more prone to fractures. All-ceramic crowns are the best choice for men and women with metal allergies and hold the added benefits of the most natural appearance and adherence by a strong bond with the tooth underneath.
A majority of the time, a minimum of two appointments is required to complete a dental crown procedure, this includes the initial diagnosis. The first visit will include X-rays so that your Skyway Dental Clinic dental professional can evaluate the condition of the tooth in question.
Next, your dentist will administer anesthesia, then file down or build up the tooth so that the crown can be attached properly. In many cases, your crown can be fabricated in our office in one visit using digital impressioning and CEREC CAD/CAM technology. In others, your dentist will take a traditional impression to send to a laboratory and fabricate a temporary crown to safeguard your tooth and prevent any tooth movement until the permanent crown is completed and in place.
To learn more about dental crowns, call Skyway Dental Clinic or make an appointment online.
