Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a tooth shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth; covering the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and /or to improve its appearance. 

The crowns, when cemented into place, fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line. 

A dental crown may be needed in the following situations:

1. To protect a weak tooth (for instance, from decay) from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth
 
2. To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down

3. To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t a lot of tooth left

4. To protect and reinforce a tooth that has had root canal treatment

5. To cover misshaped or severely discolored teeth

6. To cover a dental implant

The three predominant choices of restorative materials for the full coverage crowns are:

          1. Porcelain-fused-to-metal

          2. All-ceramic (all porcelain)

          3. Gold

The material selected is determined by the clinical demands at hand; esthetic demands, strength requirements, material durability and restorative space available. 

Porcelain -Fused-to-Metal Crowns
 
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns provide for a strong, durable, and esthetic treatment option. This crown can be color matched to your adjacent teeth. One of the key factors for the esthetic and functional success of this type of crown is ensuring the preparation of the underlying tooth structure provides adequate space for the appropriate thickness of the material selected.

One consideration in the porcelain-fused-to-metal crown is that these crowns may tend to show the underlying metal or gold margin at the gum line as gums recede over time.          

All-Ceramic Crowns

The predominant material choice for all ceramic crowns today is either zirconia, or aluminous materials.  They provide a metal free esthetic option with a number of benefits.

By eliminating the need for the supportive metal core, an esthetic all ceramic crown can be created with a reduced thickness of material.  This makes them a more favorable treatment choice in areas with limited space.  Additionally, the elimination of the metal core allows for light transmission through the porcelain for better optical, life-like properties and a higher level of esthetics.