Dental crowns are the unsung heroes of our dental care, offering protection for cracked or chipped teeth as well as cosmetic correction. In the right hands, they’re almost indistinguishable from natural teeth when inserted correctly.
강남역치과There are several crown materials to choose from, which vary in strength and appearance. Here’s a look at some of the options:
Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns
If you want a crown with strength and pleasing aesthetics, Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) may be the solution for you. This type of crown has a metal substructure that provides durability and strength, but the outer porcelain is tooth-colored and can be matched to your natural teeth. This is a great option for patients who have cracked or chipped teeth that need repair.
The metal framework is made from a combination of base metals that are popular in dentistry. However, these base metals can trigger allergic reactions in some people. If you have an allergy to any of these metals, you should consider choosing a crown with a noble metal substructure instead.
PFM crowns can also cause gum tissue irritation if the dentist does not carefully select and place the porcelain layer. Alternatively, you can choose a ceramic cap to avoid this issue. However, these crowns are more sensitive to technician error and require special care during the fabrication and placement process.
Another downside to PFM crowns is that the metal substructure can show through the porcelain. This can create a dark line by the gums that some patients dislike. In general, PFM crowns are less durable than ceramic caps but still last for decades with proper oral hygiene. These crowns are a good choice for patients with a budget because they offer the best of both worlds.
All-porcelain crowns
Dental crowns have several important functions, including preventing infection and protecting weak teeth. When bacteria erode the protective enamel of a tooth, it creates an environment that can lead to the spread of gum disease or even tooth loss. Crowns can also be used to replace a cracked or broken tooth, as well as cover a large filling or root filled tooth. When the crowns are made from porcelain, they look like a natural tooth and do not need special care. They are strong and durable, and they are less likely to cause allergies than metal crowns.
Porcelain crowns are a popular choice because they offer a more natural-looking appearance than other types of dental restorations. They are crafted from tooth-coloured porcelain, and they blend seamlessly with other teeth. This makes them a great choice for people with damaged, discoloured, or misshapen teeth. In addition, porcelain is more durable than other types of crowns, and it does not wear down as easily.
Porcelain crowns are available in a variety of different shades, and can be customised to match the idiosyncratic characteristics of your mouth. Some common materials for porcelain crowns include Procera and Empress. Procera crowns have an aluminium oxide core that is custom milled on a CAD/CAM machine, while Empress crowns have an inner layer of medium-strength pressed ceramic and a superficial outer layer of feldspathic porcelain.
Gold crowns
Gold crowns are one of the oldest tooth repair solutions and still remain one of the most durable. They also offer a quality seal for the tooth, which can help prevent leakage and decay. They can also be more visually appealing, especially when paired with the right shade of porcelain. However, they can wear down opposite teeth over time and they don’t always fit as well as some of the other crown options.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are a popular choice because they provide strength (from the metal) and aesthetics (from the porcelain coating). These are less costly than all-porcelain crowns but the underlying metal may cause a grey line over the gums.
Zirconia crowns are a new type of crown that provide both strength and natural-looking aesthetics. They are fabricated from a single block of uniform material using a computer design and milling unit, so they don’t require as much tooth structure to be removed as other types of crowns.
Generally, dental crowns are considered medically necessary and are covered at least partially by insurance. It’s important to discuss your insurance policy with a representative to determine whether or not you’ll be able to obtain coverage for this treatment. This is also a good opportunity to ask any questions you may have about your coverage. For example, some patients find that they don’t have the funds to pay for a dental crown in full and would like to know if their insurance company will cover part of the cost.
Ceramic crowns
Using today’s high-tech dental ceramics, we can construct crowns that are practically indistinguishable from a natural tooth. These are best suited to the front teeth and can be designed to enhance a patient’s smile. They are also very strong and durable, able to withstand the forces of biting, chewing, and grinding. They are also mercury free, making them a great choice for patients with metal allergies.
To prepare a tooth for a crown, we first need to remove a small amount of its natural enamel. This is done to create space for the crown and ensure that it will fit comfortably in your mouth’s natural bite (known as occlusion). After reshaping the tooth, we take impressions of it, as well as ones of the other teeth on either side to check that the new restoration fits comfortably and securely.
At VC Dental, we use state-of-the-art CEREC technology in-house to fabricate these ceramic crowns. A photo of your tooth is taken and a virtual design model is created. This data is then used to drive a computerised milling unit that cuts the crown out of a block of porcelain material, all within one appointment. The resulting restoration is then checked for fit and cementation. There are many types of all-ceramic crowns available, each fabricated from a different type of ceramic.