What are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are a custom-fit cap that goes around a broken, weak, or decaying tooth to help restore it. The tooth is reshaped to fit the crown, which is placed over the tooth. One may need a crown to fix a chipped tooth, to prevent grinding due to stress or misalignment, to fix a cavity, protect a dental implant, and more. They can be made from a variety of materials, such as resin and metal, but most commonly ceramic or porcelain.
Dental Crown Shape, Size & Material
Crowns are made to mimic the shape, color, and size of natural teeth. They are designed to fit seamlessly with your smile. They also come in various sizes; some cover the entire tooth, while some may cover only ¾ of the tooth. Dental crowns can be made with various materials that offer different advantages and disadvantages.
- Ceramic: Ceramic crowns, made entirely of ceramic, are known for their ability to be color-matched almost perfectly to the existing teeth. Because of this, they are a great choice if you need a crown in the front of your mouth that is visible. This type of crown also has a high resistance to varying temperatures.
- Porcelain & Metal: Porcelain crowns are made by fusing porcelain to metal. Because of this, they offer the same aesthetic appeal that a ceramic crown does, but are more durable. This type of crown is good for molars or other teeth that experience a lot of pressure or grinding. One downside of porcelain fused to metal is that the porcelain coating can chip off over time, exposing the metal underneath.
- All Porcelain: Completely porcelain crowns are becoming the most popular. They look very natural and are best for restoring the front teeth. With that being said, they are not nearly as strong as metal crowns and can also be more expensive.
- Gold: Gold crowns, which are often a mixture of copper and other metals, provide great strength and durability. They are not common due to the color, but they can last a very long time if properly cared for. They are most commonly used for the back teeth or molars.
- Zirconia: Zirconia crowns are relatively new. They provide the strength that a metal crown does, with the aesthetics of porcelain or ceramic. The main disadvantage of a zirconia crown is that, because they are so strong, the natural teeth that they bite against can wear down.
How Long Do Crowns Last?
The longevity of a dental crown depends on a few factors. While they are unlikely to last a lifetime, if they are properly cared for, they can last between 15 and 30 years. Because everyone has a different diet and dental hygiene routine, there is no guaranteed length of time a crown can last. If you do want to get as much time out of it as you can, it’s very important to maintain good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing), reduce eating very hard foods, and wear a mouthguard if you grind your teeth or clench your jaw.
If you have any further questions regarding your dental crown or a future one, please do not hesitate to call the office.
Related Article: Advantages & Disadvantages of Ceramic Crowns?