Dental crowns are designed to completely cover the visible portion of the damaged tooth and closely match the surrounding natural teeth in shape, size and color. Experienced cosmetic dentists strive to provide the most efficient and cosmetically pleasing dental crown design and placement to meet the needs of each individual patient.

Reasons for Placing Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are placed to restore specific problems with a patient’s teeth that often involve the shape, size, strength, appearance and overall wear and tear. Some common reasons patients need to have a dental crown placed include:

  • Restore a tooth that has a large amount of decay
  • Cover a tooth that has had a root canal procedure
  • Support a dental bridge
  • Cover a dental implant
  • Support a tooth that has more filling material than natural enamel left
  • Prevent a weak tooth from breaking
  • Keep a cracked tooth from falling apart
  • Cover a discolored tooth
  • Cover a misshapen tooth
  • Restore a broken tooth
  • Restore a worn tooth

Materials Used in Dental Crowns

The most appropriate materials to be used in an individual procedure depend on the preferences of the patient, the cost of the materials and the preferences of the cosmetic dentist performing the procedure. Available dental crown material options include metal, resin, porcelain fused to metal, and all porcelain.

Metal crowns – Many cosmetic dentists offer the option of using metal crowns, although this material is no longer used in many practices. It is one of the least expensive materials for a dental crown and is highly visible unless placed on the back teeth. Consult your chosen cosmetic dentist to determine what types of crowns they place.

Resin Crowns – Resin crowns are often the least expensive to place. Unfortunately, they also do not last as long as crowns made of other materials. The material wears faster and is more easily fractured. Resin crowns should not be placed on teeth that are subjected to a lot of pressure, such as the back teeth.

Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns – Porcelain fused to metal crowns are highly durable due to the metal inner structure of the crown. Except for a thin line of metal that is visible at the gum line, the metal material of this type of crown cannot be seen. It also offers more strength and durability for crowns that are placed on the back teeth which are subjected to more pressure.

Porcelain Crowns – Porcelain crowns are the best option for patients who want their crowns to match their natural teeth. When a porcelain crown is being designed, the dentist has the ability to choose the color of the material the crown is made from. This allows proper matching to the color of the patient’s surrounding natural teeth.

Porcelain crowns are stain resistant, extremely durable, and act like the enamel of a natural tooth in that they absorb and reflect light in the same way. Porcelain crowns are also a safe alternative for patients who are allergic to metals, or who do not know if they have a metal allergy.

If you are interested in dental crowns in the San Diego, California area, please contact the Coleman Center for Cosmetic Dentistry today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Paul Coleman.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/dental-care-articles/dental-crowns-968579.html