A crown is a dental restoration that covers the entire visible part of your tooth above your gum line. Dental crowns will improve the aesthetic appearance of a weakened or unsightly tooth and also protect and strengthen it from further damage. They are usually made from either ceramic or porcelain, and they are also custom-designed to match the specific color of your natural teeth. In some cases, metal or resin crowns could be used. Metal crowns are also more expensive and are not used very often. A dental crown is often placed on a broken tooth or a tooth following a root canal procedure or one that has been damaged by decay. Crowns are used to support a traditional dental bridge or to complete a dental implant restoration.
Some Advantages of Ceramic Crowns
The leading benefit of a crown created from ceramic is the visual aesthetics. Ceramic crowns match the unique reflective quality of your natural teeth, which then allows an all-ceramic crown to blend with your natural surrounding teeth. A ceramic crown is more resistant to wear than other options, providing longer life expectancy results.
An all-ceramic restoration is a popular, effective, and successful choice if you want to restore the strength or appearance of a tooth.
Another consistent benefit of a ceramic crown is the actual fabrication process. Your dentist will have a working relationship with a dental lab that has years of specialized training and experience in the fabrication of ceramic crowns. The lab technicians create a ceramic crown with precise contours matching the shape of your natural teeth.
The Disadvantages of Ceramic Crowns
Because of the intricacy, a ceramic crown might take longer to fabricate than other types of dental crowns. You will visit your dentist twice to receive your ceramic crown treatment. Additional laboratory fees may also increase the final cost. The benefits still outweigh the small difference in both extra time and cost.
Ceramic crowns also need to be thicker than other material choices to prevent the crown from breaking. This means your dentist will need to remove more of your natural tooth to accommodate the thicker crown. Also, if a fracture does occur, an all-ceramic crown is more of a challenge to repair. If your crown fractures, you will most likely require a new restoration. Your dentist will make choices that are most beneficial to you.
Are You a Candidate for a Ceramic Crown
A ceramic crown is a restorative choice if you want to successfully restore both the appearance and strength of a natural tooth. A dental crown will help protect a tooth that has been weakened by damage or decay, and also improve the integrity of your healthy smile. There are some situations that may affect the possibility of a ceramic crown, such as:
- Inadequate space between your teeth- An overbite or an unusually erupted tooth might place added pressure on a ceramic crown, which will then require a stronger material than ceramic.
- Clenching or grinding- The excessive pressures produced by habits like clenching or grinding will easily damage a ceramic restoration.
Your dentist might recommend an alternative material for a ceramic crown for another identifiable reason. For many patients, a ceramic crown provides an attractive, strong restoration for their healthy smiles.
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