What is a crown?
A dental crown is a tiny cap that goes over a tooth to protect it. You can conceal cracks, chips, and other flaws in your teeth. This little cap is placed on top of the injured tooth with care.
A dental crown is both a cosmetic and restorative procedure because it can hide dental problems while also providing support to the tooth. You can protect your teeth in addition to masking symptoms of dental disease or damage.
Dental crowning can be used to prevent pain and infection after root canal therapy. It is critical to realize that the tooth will not be functional indefinitely. It’s also possible that degradation will resurface, jeopardizing the structure’s integrity.
Dental crowns are always constructed to suit your mouth correctly, not just to match the appearance of your existing teeth. However, the dentist must first make an impression before the crown can be created.
A clay-like material will be used by the dentist during this procedure. Your bite mark will be matched by the soft, rubbery substance. They can use this information to create a mold of your teeth and then fabricate the crown. The dentist will use the imprint to assess the size and shape of your current tooth, as well as the neighboring teeth.
The impression will be submitted to a lab after it has been generated. The personalized dental crown is then created by skilled experts. The crown is manufactured to the exact measurements of the impression. As previously said, the dental crown is designed to seem like your natural teeth.
How is the crown fitted?
You need to have two appointments with the dentist to fit your dental crown appropriately.
The specialized dentist will take x-rays during the initial appointment to ensure the tooth’s root is strong. The injured tooth will then need to be filed down to accommodate the crown.
In other circumstances, if a significant portion of the tooth has been lost owing to injury or decay, a filler may be required to restore the remaining structure. Because every mouth is different, the quantity of tooth that needs to be removed or the amount of filler that is needed differs from patient to patient.
After that, we’ll take imprints of the tooth and the teeth around it (to ensure the new crown does not affect your bite). Then, while you wait for your next appointment, we’ll place a temporary crown on the vulnerable tooth to safeguard it.
The crown will be attached at the second session, which will have been custom-made in the lab to exactly fit your tooth and mouth for the most comfortable outcomes. The permanent crown is glued in place once the temporary crown is removed.
Types of Dental Crown:
[A] All-Ceramic Crowns:
These are porcelain-based filling materials that are usually recommended for front teeth since they blend in with the original teeth’s color. The dentist may have to remove additional dental structures before the porcelain is connected to the tooth; nonetheless, the material is resistant to wear because it is fragile under strong biting.
[B] Porcelain Fused to Metal Crown:
This material is attached to the outside of a metal structure to give the tooth strength and a good seal to avoid decay and leakage. Porcelain that has been bonded to metal provides a stronger restoration than porcelain alone. Even though the dentist will have to remove a robust structure of your tooth, this material is extremely sturdy and long-lasting.
[C] All Porcelain Crowns:
These are all the ones that dentists usually prescribe since they are cosmetically pleasant. It is significantly easier to match the color of the surrounding teeth with an all-porcelain crown. However, because the material is relatively thick and more of the original tooth must be filed, it may be difficult for a dentist to get a proper fit along the gum line.
[D] Stainless steel crows:
This crown is primarily utilized while a permanent one is being created. It has been prepared in advance to be placed in a single appointment. They are quite durable, even if they do not have the best physical appeal.
[E] Gold Alloys Crown:
Gold alloy crowns are usually made out of gold, copper, and other metals. They provide the tooth structure with a robust crown. It is fracture and wear-resistant. It also doesn’t wear down the teeth that it protects. Crowns made of gold alloys are extremely biocompatible with the gum tissue.
[F] Solid Zirconia:
The feel and appearance of this material are quite similar to that of a natural tooth. They are more durable than porcelain and ceramic crowns. They’re also more popular than most materials because they blend in better with the gums and other teeth.
[G] Base Metal Alloys Crown:
Because they contain non-noble metals, they are highly difficult to corrode and give the crown and tooth a considerable deal of strength. Because the metal alloys are so strong, the dentist will only shave a small portion of the native tooth to prepare it for base metal alloys. Because the metal is relatively soft, base metal alloy crowns are very kind to oppose teeth and will not cause harm when a patient chews or grinds their teeth.
What is a bridge?
A full dental bridge consists of two crowns on either side of a missing tooth or teeth, which are linked to an artificial tooth or teeth that cover the gap. The “bridge” is made up of three or four “teeth” that are cemented into place to replace your lost tooth. To match your other teeth, dental bridges are made of tooth-colored materials.
Sturdy dental implants can also be used to support a dental bridge. Your bridge might last more than ten years if you practice appropriate dental hygiene.
Is a dental crown or bridge suitable for you?
Yes, a dental crown or bridge is suitable for you. By preserving teeth and providing solid support, dental crowns and bridges can help save them. This allows you to continue chewing and consuming your favorite meals with proper function.
Treatment Process:
The dental crown process involves two stages. Let’s look into them:
Stage – 1 Preparation:
(a) Anesthetic:
The tooth and its surroundings are numbed. Before anesthetic insertion, a specially prepared topical numbing lotion is applied. This, combined with other treatments developed over the previous 30 years, has made the process more comfortable than ever before.
(b) Impression:
A brief imprint of the tooth that will be onlayed or crowned, as well as a couple of teeth on either side, is taken. After the appointment, this will be utilized to create a temporary onlay or crown.
© Isolation of the teeth:
To protect surrounding structures, the teeth are sometimes isolated from the rest of the mouth using an isolation construction called a rubber dam or dental dam.
(d) Tooth Preparation:
To make room for the onlay / crown, the outer surface of a tooth is removed by 0.5 to 1.5mm, along with any fillings. The amount of reduction is determined by the material used. The convex sides of the tooth’s walls are changed to near-parallel sides. A finish line, also known as a ledge, is created circumferentially around the tooth to allow for a tight seal at the crown-tooth junction.
(e) Gum Retraction:
With a retraction cord, the gums are gently reflected away from the finish lines. Between the gums and the preparation finish lines, this very fine piece of specialized “string” is inserted in the trough. It is removed right before the impression is taken, allowing for the application of impression material with a very fluid consistency to this area.
This is one of the most crucial steps in achieving a properly fitting crown, and it can take up to 15 minutes to complete.
(f) Temporary Crown Protection:
The preparation is covered with a temporary onlay/crown, which is fixed with temporary cement. This interim rebuild is made using a basic impression of the tooth that was taken before any work was done.
As a result, it usually has the same form as the tooth before it was prepared, and it is easily accepted by your tongue and cheeks for the two weeks it takes for the laboratory to make the crown.
(g) Shade Selection:
Using the adjacent teeth as a guide, a shade, or tooth color, is determined. If the tooth is a front tooth, we recommend that you go to the lab where the crown will be made. There, you will meet with skilled specialists who will be part of the crown fabrication process and who will take thorough notes on the shade, shape, and texture of adjacent teeth to guarantee that your new crown or onlay matches your teeth almost invisibly.
Stage – 2 Cementation:
The bridge is gently pressed into position once the tooth surfaces and the fitting surface of the bridge have been prepared to take permanent cement. Excess cement is scraped away after the cement has been set, and the bridge is re-evaluated.
For a few weeks after cementation, there may be minor sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures. This is usually only transitory and will go away on its own. If the bridge feels strange in your bite after the first 48 hours, you’ll probably need to come back to our office to have your bite evaluated and corrected — it’s a quick 5-minute operation.
FAQs:
In most hospitals, dental crowns are very popular. However, before visiting the hospital’s dental department, a patient may have concerns regarding this sort of tooth replacement. Here are the answers to some of the most often asked questions by patients.
- Does a crowned tooth require special care?
Ans: Your crown may not require any additional care beyond that provided to your real tooth. It’s crucial to remember, however, that the crown does not protect the underlying tooth against decay or gum disease. This is why maintaining good dental hygiene is essential.
- Is it painful to get a crown?
Ans: To stay comfortable during the crowning procedure, patients will just require a topical anesthetic. There may be minor toothaches and sensitivities, but the patient will be OK with medicines. However, if the discomfort is severe and persistent, you should seek treatment from a dentist.
- Are Crowns thicker than normal teeth?
Ans: The crown’s thickness is determined by the materials used in its construction. The thickness of the chewing surface typically ranges from 0.5-2 mm on the sides and 1.5 millimeters on the chewing surface. Metal crowns are much thinner than porcelain crowns.
- Can a dental crown be Whitened?
Ans: No. The materials that make up the crown, unlike natural teeth, do not respond to whitening procedures. The crown will be different from the rest of the teeth if you elect to whiten the natural enamel. You can whiten your teeth before getting a dental crown or replace your crown with a lighter one as part of your smile makeover.
- What problems could develop with a dental crown?
You may experience some discomfort and sensitivity because this is not your natural tooth. Because the anesthesia is wearing off, you may have some sensation on your newly crowned teeth right after the surgery. Patients are likely to feel cold or heat sensitivity if the capped tooth still possesses a nerve.
Brushing your teeth with a toothpaste formulated for such teeth is recommended by a dentist. When you bite down, you may experience sensitivity or pain, which indicates that the crown on your tooth is too high. This is an issue that can be resolved by contacting your dentist.
Chipped crowns, especially ones made entirely of porcelain, are another issue that could arise. A loose crown might also be a concern, especially if the cement behind it washes out. In the worst-case scenario, the crown could come out owing to poor fit or a shortage of cement.
- What are the alternatives to a dental crown?
Ans: A dental bridge can be used to replace one or more lost teeth. Fillings, onlays, and inlays may be used to treat dental decay. Instead of a crown, dental bonding can be used to repair damaged or cracked teeth. Purely cosmetic treatment can be achieved with porcelain veneers or a mix of orthodontics and teeth whitening.