Porcelain crowns are durable and natural-looking, blending smoothly in with the surrounding teeth while providing protection and support to damaged or decayed teeth. While dental crowns can be made of a variety of materials, porcelain is the most lifelike, with a luminousness that’s similar to the natural teeth, and it’s also easy to tint porcelain crowns so they match their neighbors in both luster and hue. Additionally, custom-crafted porcelain crowns can be shaped and sculpted to precisely match the contours of the natural teeth, adding to their lifelike, impressive appearance. Porcelain crowns are also more durable than some other materials, though their most appealing selling point is their appearance, which makes them the optimal choice for dental crowns located toward the front of the mouth, in the areas most visible when speaking, eating, or smiling.
Because of their precise, complex design, however, porcelain crowns may take longer to design and fabricate than some other kinds of crowns. In most cases, treatment with porcelain crowns will require at least two visits to the dentist – one for fitting, and one for placement – while some other types of crowns can be crafted and bonded to the teeth in a single visit. While this procedure may incur additional costs from the laboratory that makes the porcelain crown, the results of a prosthetic custom-made by an expert can’t be overlooked, and, for many patients, the excellence of these results outweighs increased investments of time and money.
In order to place a dental crown, the dentist must first remove a small amount of the natural tooth structure to accommodate the crown. Because porcelain restorations are a bit thicker than some of the other materials used for restorations, which helps make them more durable, it’s often necessary to remove some additional dental tissue before placing the porcelain crown. This allows for the even, natural, symmetrical appearance that’s desired in any dental restoration treatment, which comes at the cost of further compromising the structure of any already weakened tooth. It’s also more difficult to repair porcelain crowns when they break; in most cases, if a porcelain crown fractures or cracks, it can’t be repaired and must be replaced. With careful design and craftsmanship and proper aftercare, however, the likelihood of a porcelain crown fracturing can be kept to a minimum.
Porcelain crowns are considered the ideal choice for a number of patients who wish to restore the appearance of a tooth or repair and protect its integrity and strength. Crowns can be used to protect damaged teeth, whether they’re damaged due to injury, tooth decay, or even normal wear and tear, and they can mask imperfections in the shape, size, or color of a tooth. In some circumstances, porcelain crowns might not be the best choice for certain patients, though your dentist is best equipped to make this call. Some examples of contraindications for porcelain restorations include insufficient spacing between the teeth, which can exert excessive pressure on a crown, or the habit of chronically clenching or grinding the teeth, which can damage porcelain crowns. However, in many cases, porcelain crowns are a suitable option for securely restoring the function of the dentition, helping maintain the integrity of the teeth, and redesigning the smile.
