A Brief Note about Dental Crown

Dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap which is placed over a tooth in order to restore its looks and functionality. After being cemented in place, the dental crown becomes a visible portion that seems like a grown tooth out above the gum line.

Why is dental crown required?

A dental crown becomes an ultimate requirement in the following situations.

• Cracking or chipping of tooth
• Severely worn down tooth
• Tooth that has a large filling but not much of the original tooth structure is left
• When there is a requirement to hold a dental bridge
• Covering a dental implant
• Need of cosmetic modification

Types of dental crowns available

Details about the types of crowns that mentioned as under:

• The first type to talk about is the stainless steel. These dental crowns are used permanently as well temporarily to cover a tooth’s structure. The best thing about this crown is that it is highly durable and an excellent candidate to restore the stretch of a tooth. It doesn’t look aesthetically pleasing though.
• Metal alloys are used for the making of crowns; and, presumably, these crowns can be rated in the top category of most durable dental crowns. These crowns consist of high content of gold or platinum, or base metal alloys which include cobalt-chromium and nickel-chromium alloys.
• Porcelain fused to metal dental crowns offer an ideal mix of cosmetic perfection and durability. These crowns are colored right according to the color of surrounding teeth. And the metal content in the crown ensures maximum durability. The downside of this crown is that the metal underlying the porcelain might show up as a dark line near gum line.
• The All-resin dental crown is an affordable option as compared to other types of crowns but it is not as durable as others. It may wear down with time and it is more prone to fractures.
• If you have metal allergy, you can opt for All-ceramic or All-porcelain crowns which are pretty closely similar to natural teeth in terms of aesthetics and functionality. These crowns ideal for the restoration of front and back teeth.

How long do the dental crowns last?

The average age of a dental crown is between 5 and 15 years. So it comes down to the amount of wear and tear the crown has to endure while it is being used. Of course, proper oral hygiene and ensuring prevention of teeth clenching or grinding are going to let you keep your crown in functional condition for many years.

Special care for dental crown

Many people wonder if there is a special care required for the dental crown. You have to keep in mind that just because a tooth is crowned doesn’t mean it is fully protected against tooth decay and gum disease. The bacteria can still seep into the gaps to reach the remaining tooth structure and cause decay, which can act like a precursor to several other dental health problems.