 Dental Crown
Silver Spring, MD
Depending on the health of your mouth, we at Metropolitan Dental Specialty Group, can perform different kinds of dental procedures on you, including dental exams, dental cleanings, root canal therapy, tooth extraction, dental bridges, and dental implants. In conjunction with root canals and dental implants, dental crowns are needed as well.
Let us take a look at the different types of dental crowns available and what benefits they provide us.
What are Dental Crowns?
A dental crown or a cap is a prosthetic object that is placed on top of a prepared tooth or a dental implant. It is a fixed prosthetic and once placed, it can only be safely removed by a dentist.
To fix a damaged tooth, your doctor and your doctor must first scale down the enamel of the tooth so that it can accommodate the crown. Then impressions of the prepared tooth are taken and sent to a dental lab where the crown is fabricated.
Once the crown is made, it is cemented securely on top of the prepared teeth.
The main purpose of a dental crown is to protect and strengthen vulnerable teeth or to replace missing teeth, but they also improve the overall alignment and appearance of your smile.
What are Dental Crowns Used For?
At Metropolitan Dental Specialty Group, we may recommend dental crowns to:
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Protect a weak tooth from fracturing.
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Restore a fractured tooth.
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Cover a dental implant.
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Sit atop a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment.
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Attach a dental bridge. |
What are Dental Crowns Made From?
Dental crowns are made from a variety of different materials:
Gold Alloy Crowns
Gold dental crowns are primarily made of gold but contains a small amount of base metals as well like copper. These crowns are hypoallergenic and stain-resistant. Crowns made from gold are the strongest and do not fracture or wear away with time. In fact, gold crowns can last for as many as 40 years.
Because of their strength and metallic color, gold crowns are preferred for molars. However, these crowns are also very expensive.
Base Metal Alloy Crowns
Base metal alloy crowns are made predominantly of non-noble metals like nickel and chromium. These crowns require the least amount of tooth structure to be removed to accommodate a crown.
Base metal crowns are very strong and highly resistant to corrosion and staining. However, some people may have allergies to certain metal like nickel in the crown.
Porcelain Fused to Metal Crowns
Porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crowns are a very popular choice for crowns as they are very strong and mimic the look of your natural teeth. Because of this, these crowns can be used for both front and back teeth. Porcelain is also a very hypoallergenic and stain-resistant material. With proper care, these crowns can last for 25 years or even more.
Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain crowns are usually used to restore incisors since porcelain is not as strong as metal-based crowns. However, it is still very popular because of the light-reflecting, corrosion-resisting, and stain-resisting properties of porcelain.
However, porcelain crown may be prone to chipping and do not last as long as other crowns, though they can last up to 10 years with proper care.
Depending on the material of the crown and the level of oral care, crowns can last anywhere from 10 to 40 years — and sometimes, even more. Dental crowns remain one of the very best ways to restore a damaged or decayed tooth with a high success rate. If you think you may require a dental crown, contact us today at (301) 585-0400 to schedule an appointment with us.
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