Dental Crowns Explained: Types, Costs, Procedure & Aftercare
Chipping tooth is never anyone's favorite thing as it usually means a hefty dental visit to follow. If the tooth can be saved a crown is a common recommendation for many to protect the integrity of the tooth.
Some would you should get it? Is it safe? What is it made of or how is it made? Well in this outline we will aim to explain all of that to give you the most in depth look into the crown procedures.
After this read you should be able to make the most in depth decision about crowns. Any additional questions and our team will be happy to help!
What is a Dental Crown?
The definition of dental crowns found on Cleveland Clinic states that,
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that restores a decayed, broken, weak or worn-down tooth. Dentists also use crowns to cover dental implants and root canal-treated teeth. Made from a variety of materials, including metal, resin and porcelain, crowns last between five and 15 years with proper care.
To simplify everything into a few words, a dental crown is a hard hat for your tooth. Like how a hard hat protects construction workers at a workplace, dental crowns helps to protect your tooth. But like all dangerous construction sites have signs mandating the use of hard hats when would you need a dental crown?
When would you need a Dental Crown?
Dental crowns are necessary for the following cases:
-
Strengthen a weakened tooth
-
Reinforce and protect a cracked tooth
-
Restoration of a broken or worn-down tooth
-
Cover a severely discolored or stained tooth
-
Cover a root canal tooth
-
Finishing of a dental implant
Most commonly it is done as reinforcement and restoration of a root canal tooth or broken tooth. It is also common for a crown to be recommended for severe discoloration. Dental crowns are included in our dental packages for implants, for more information you can check out the dental implant section under services!
However, just like how there are many types of helmets and hard hats, there are any many types of dental crowns you can choose from, lets go over them.
While it does protect your tooth the way that it is placed on your tooth is unlike how you would put on a regular hat.
Types of Dental Crown?
Metal crowns: Dental crowns made out of metallic materials ranging from gold, palladium, platinum or other metal alloys.
-
Pros
-
Highly durable, rarely chips or breaks
-
Lasts the longest and can withstand biting and chewing forces the best
-
Requires less enamel removal to be placed
-
-
Cons
-
Metallic in color which makes it stand out
-
Not customizable in terms of color, can vary type of metal used.
-
3 Metal Crowns arranged from most common to least common
-
Base Metal Alloys
-
Mix of possible materials include nickel, chromium, titanium, gold, silver, platinum, copper, palladium or tin. Metallic look resembling stainless steel and more affordable crown compared to platinum crowns.
-
-
Gold Crown
-
Great for durability, less likely to cause allergic reactions, resistance to corrosion and has good marginal fit. Benefit it looks much better compared to normal metal crowns.
-
-
Platinum Crowns
-
Super high durability and longevity, very shiny and corrosive resistant. Negative drawback is that they cost more than typical crowns and have the metallic look.
-
Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM)/ Porcelain crowns: Dental crowns that combine durability of metal with natural look of porcelain.
-
Pros
-
Durable as they last almost as long as metal crowns.
-
Customizable as you can choose the color that best match your teeth.
-
Can restore both front and back teeth as their colors can blend in easier and not stand out like metal crowns
-
-
Cons
-
Porcelain coating may chip off over time gradually exposing the metal. This materializes a dark line/discoloration on the gumline.
-
May grind down your enamel on your opposing teeth
-
Ceramic Crowns: Crowns that are made completely of some type of ceramic material
-
Pros
-
Natural looking appearance similar to your natural tooth colors
-
Avoids those who have metal allergies
-
High resistance to temperature changes, this can mitigate temperature sensitivities
-
-
Cons
-
More susceptible to fractures in patients with habits like grinding.
-
More of the tooth need to be removed to ensure a proper fit
-
Costs more than PFM crowns and metal crowns (not gold)
-
Zirconia Crowns: Dental crowns made of Zirconium dioxide which is a type of ceramic material.
-
Pros
-
Strength and durable as it is resistant to chipping and normal wear and tear.
-
Well tolerated by the body as it is unlikely to cause allergic reactions
-
Aesthetically pleasing as it closely resembles natural tooth color
-
-
Cons
-
Opaque appearance makes it look more less natural compared to ceramic or porcelain. This is especially prominent if it is a full zirconia crown that was not made with any other types of ceramic or metal.
-
Full zirconia crown will be more pricey than the average crowns. Usually price can range between $1500-$2000.
-
3D printed crowns: Crowns composed of part resin and part ceramic/porcelain material. Relatively new technology for crowns.
-
Pros
-
Quick and easy to make and can be made in office without having to be manufactured in a lab
-
Cheap, far cheaper than other crowns.
-
-
Cons
-
Weaker than most crowns as well as being brittle. Due to the 3D printed crowns being relatively new it is not a recommended option unless the other options are too expensive to afford. The composition of the material is at maximum about 70-80% ceramic material. It's strength is not yet that of other crowns and is not a current option at London Sherwood Dental Care.
-
For severely damaged or chipped tooth crowns are used to prevent chipping of a fragile tooth/teeth crowns and bridges as they are essentially a cap on the tooth itself to keep it intact. Crowns are singular "caps" that are placed on top of one tooth while bridges are a connected set of crowns which span the gap between two tooth, replacing one or a few missing tooth. The procedure itself involves taking a mold or 3D scan of the area and sending it to a lab to prepare the crown. Once it is finished our dentists will help you attach it to your tooth, an effective pain-free procedure.
There is a big distinction between bridges to dentures, crowns and bridges are fixed, while dentures can be removed. Despite the fact that they are artificial they still need to be taken care for like normal teeth to ensure gum disease do not develop. If crowns and bridges are required our dentists will talk to you about prices and what type to get.
