Dental Crowns – Types, Durabilty and Process
Dental crowns are caps placed on top of damaged teeth. Crowns are used to protect, cover and restore the shape of your teeth when fillings don’t solve the problem. Dental crowns can be made out of metals, porcelain, resin and ceramics. They typically don’t require special care over time other than regular good oral hygiene.
They are shaped like normal teeth, and designed specifically for your mouth. But sometimes these crowns – particularly new crowns – can feel uncomfortable or uneven, almost like something is wrong. Crowns are supposed to feel like normal, heathy teeth, so it’s understandable to feel concerned when your crown feels off.
crowns are long lasting. However, just like anything else made by people, they will eventually wear out. Decay under a crown is a common way that a crown eventually fails. Early detection of decay at the edges of a crown reduces the amount of destruction of tooth caused by decay.
Types Of Dental Crowns :
Stainless steel crowns:
Stainless Steel Crowns are prefabricated crowns that are used on permanent teeth primarily as a temporary measure. The crown protects the tooth or filling while a permanent crown is made from another material. For children, a stainless steel crown is commonly used to fit over a primary tooth that’s been prepared to fit it. The crown covers the entire tooth and protects it from further decay.
Metals:
Metals used in crowns include alloys that have a high content of gold or platinum, or base-metal alloys (for example, cobalt- chromium and nickel-chromium alloys). Metal crowns withstand biting and chewing forces well and probably last the longest in terms of wear down. Also, metal crowns rarely chip or break.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns:
Porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns can be color matched to your adjacent teeth which is not like metal Crowns. However, more wearing to the opposing teeth occurs with this crown type compared with metal or resin crowns. The crown’s porcelain portion can also chip or break off. Next to all-ceramic crowns, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns look most like normal teeth.
All-resin dental crowns:
All-resin dental crowns are less expensive than other crown types. However, they wear down over time and are more prone to fractures than porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
All-ceramic or all-porcelain dental crowns:
All-ceramic or all-porcelain dental crowns provide better natural color match than any other crown type and may be more suitable for people with metal allergies. All-ceramic crowns can be used for front and back teeth.
Durabilty:
The average lifespan for a well-maintained dental crown is typically around 15 years. However, when taken care of properly, it is common to see them last upwards of 25-30 years
Is it Painful?
Getting a crown should be a virtually painless process from the first visit to the last. Your mouth will be numbed before any filling or fitting is done by your dentist.
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