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Dr. Steven Lind, DMD
PH. 503-566-7000
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Tooth Crowns
Dental crowns are a powerful cosmetic and restorative tool for treating teeth that have been significantly damaged, decayed, or are unattractive in ways that cannot be corrected with Porcelain Veneers or other porcelain restorations. Dental crowns are a sheath that fits over your tooth, covering it from the top to below the gum line. The crown is bonded to your tooth, and it becomes your tooth for all functional and appearance purposes. A crown is recommended in the following situations:
- Root canal restoration (Endodontic procedure)
- Tooth weakened by numerous amalgam fillings
- Cusp fracture of a tooth
- Cosmetic restoration of a tooth unsuited for veneering
- Neuromuscular Full Mouth Reconstructions will sometimes feature crowns to permanently correct bite issues.
In all these cases, your dental crown will fit completely over your tooth, making it more attractive, protecting it against further damage and decay, and providing it with fully functional chewing surfaces.
Crown Types
There are three types of crowns available for use in dental restorations today:
- All-metal crowns are primarily functional restorations. They perform well in terms of protecting your teeth and performing the chewing tasks necessary on a daily basis. Their only functional lack is that they conduct heat very well, and can sometimes make a tooth sensitive to temperature extremes, although this is generally not a problem in root canal procedures where the root of the tooth has been removed. The main detriment to restorations with all-metal crowns is that they are highly visible and less attractive than other restorations. Your all-metal crowns will be seen every time you open your mouth to talk, laugh, eat, or yawn.
- All-porcelain crowns are both functional and aesthetic restorations. They perform all the tasks necessary of a crown, and they do them in style. Porcelain crowns can, in many cases, blend in completely in your mouth, making them undetectable. No one will know you have crowns; they will only see your great-looking smile. All-porcelain crowns can also be very convenient. With our new CEREC(coming soon) machine, all-porcelain restorations can be crafted while you wait, so there is no need to take an impression of your teeth, then wait while the restoration is made, which can take some time, even with our on-site ceramicist. Instead, the CEREC(coming soon) machine uses a CAD/CAM system to manufacture the all-porcelain crown within minutes. To learn more about this exciting technology and how it has revolutionized the process of making dental restorations, consult our All-Porcelain Crowns page.
- Porcelain fused to metal crowns are both functional and aesthetic restorations, and in some cases provide a better cosmetic result than all-porcelain crowns. If the tooth being treated is highly discolored, the translucent porcelain will sometimes be unable to properly conceal the discoloration within, but the white zirconium oxide works like a primer, completely blocking the discoloration and giving a good cosmetic result no matter what the appearance of the teeth underneath. Zirconium oxide is also one of the strongest materials available for dental restorations today. Because of its strength and the accuracy with which it can be crafted, zirconium oxide crowns can be made thinner, allowing for the removal of less of the tooth during preparation, making them an ideal choice in many situations.
For more information, see Dental Crowns Questions.
To determine which crown material offers the best combination of characteristics for your particular situation requires a consultation to an experienced cosmetic dentist. Please contact us today to schedule your consultation at The Art of Smilemaking.
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