A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth, covering it and restoring its shape, size, strength, and/or look. When cemented in place, crowns completely surround the visible area of a tooth above and below the gum line. The following situations may necessitate the use of a dental crown:
- To prevent a weak tooth from shattering or to hold sections of a broken tooth together.
- To repair a tooth that has already been fractured or significantly worn down.
- When there isn’t much tooth left, a big filling can be used to cover and support a tooth.
- It can also be used to hold a dental bridge in place.
- Covering a dental implant.
- To hide a misshaped or excessively discolored tooth.
Permanent crowns can be made from all metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or all ceramic. Gold alloy, other alloys, or a base-metal alloy are among the metals used in crowns. Metal crowns require less tooth structure to be removed than other crown types, and opposing teeth wear is maintained to a minimum. Metal crowns are the most resistant to biting and chewing pressures and are likely to survive the longest in terms of wear. They also don’t chip or break very often. The primary flaw is the shiny color. Metal crowns are a fantastic option for molars that are hidden from view.
The color of your dental crowns can be matched to the color of your neighboring teeth (unlike the metallic crowns). However, when compared to metal crowns, this crown type causes more wear to the opposing teeth. The porcelain element of the crown can potentially chip or crack. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, as compared to all-ceramic crowns, look the most natural. However, the metal beneath the crown’s porcelain can occasionally show through as a black line, particularly around the gum line and much more so if your gums recede. These crowns are suitable for both front and back teeth.
All-ceramic or all-porcelain dental crowns have the best natural color match of any crown type and may be better for persons who are allergic to metals. They are, however, not as sturdy as porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, and they wear opposing teeth down a little more than metal crowns. For front teeth, all-ceramic crowns are a viable option
