When it comes to treating a badly damaged tooth, you need to know what options you have for the restoration of that tooth’s strength, shape, and appearance. Dental crowns provide one of these options. They work to repair and strengthen a tooth damaged by tooth decay, trauma, or discoloration. Some dental crowns types also replace teeth as part of dental implants. Others support and hold bridges in place for these dental restorations.
Different Dental Crowns Types
Depending on your needs for a dental crown, your dentist decides on the best dental crowns types to satisfy those needs. Most crowns work by fitting like a cap over a tooth, being cemented into place for permanent wear and tear after damage. Others fit over an implant for tooth replacement. When you suffer missing teeth, crowns on both sides of that tooth gap can support a bridge to maintain your healthy smile and bite.
Which dental crowns types you need will depend on two major factors. These include the type of dental problems you suffer and your oral health. The four dental crowns types include:
- Ceramic
- Porcelain
- Gold alloys
- Base metal alloys
Ceramic crowns restore teeth visible in the front of your mouth, those seen when you talk, smile or eat. These blend with your natural tooth color. A lab makes these crowns of porcelain based metal. For greater strength and support of chewing, porcelain fused to metal provides better durability than ceramic crowns.
Gold alloy crowns use a mix of gold, copper, and other metals. These bond very well to teeth and do not break or wear away the tooth they cover. Base metal alloys work similarly well, providing corrosion resistance. For base metal alloy crowns you do not need as much tooth material filed to fit the crown when compared to porcelain or ceramic crowns.
Which Type of Crowns Best Suit My Needs?
You learn what type of crowns best suit your needs through dental services at your practice. The dentist provides an examination of your damaged, weakened or discolored tooth to understand the right fit. The dentist then makes a recommendation, whether the crown is for covering your tooth, providing natural-looking implant covering, or supporting a bridge.
Gold and metal alloy crowns provide the greatest strength and durability for molars, your chewing teeth. On these teeth that undergo a great deal of wear and tear, porcelain and ceramic crowns provide less strength and durability.
Taking Care of Your Crowns
Some crowns loosen or fall out. Others develop cavities beneath the crown. But properly cared for, these dental devices last a lifetime and protect your teeth as designed for this purpose.
For long-wearing crowns, simply maintain good daily oral health care through brushing and flossing. Also avoid biting down on hard candies, ice, popcorn kernels, and other hard foods. See your dentist twice yearly and keep up with the dental services you need. Essential general dentistry services you might need include:
- Oral surgery
- Orthodontics
- Dental crowns and onlays
- CEREC same-day crowns
If you suffer tooth damage, tooth loss or other problems sometimes requiring crowns, talk to your dentist about the different dental crowns types. Schedule your visit to South High Dental today in Columbus, Ohio. Call 614-363-2462 for appointment scheduling now.
