Dental Crowns: Bringing Back That Smile

Nov 2
07:38

2011

Aloysius Aucoin

Aloysius Aucoin

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Dental crowns are shell-like restorative aids that help address specific dental concerns such as extremely gapped teeth or breakage. The actual crown design and construction is vital to ensuring that the shells are lasting yet functional and natural looking.

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Cosmetic dentistry encompasses a wide range of restorative dental work that is intended to enhance the aesthetics of one's facial contours and smile. While veneers and bridge work may be recommended for individuals with superficial concerns such as discoloration or slight tooth chipping,Dental Crowns: Bringing Back That Smile Articles a full-fledged dental crown is often the preferred restorative aid in case of heavily spaced teeth or chipped teeth.

Who Needs Dental Crowns

A crown is an outer shell that resembles the natural teeth structure and is one of the most commonly opted for restorative procedure primarily because it is less invasive yet dramatically enhances an individual's physical appearance. A crown is ideal for those with large gaps with or without fillings, particularly if one has undergone root canal treatment.

Constructing a Crown

Since dental crowns are virtually the same structure as the natural tooth, it is important to obtain accurate imprints of the actual teeth to be restored as well as the jaw line and gum layer so that the shells can be suitably fabricated. In technical terms, your dentist will want alginate impressions of your maxillary and mandibular arches so that the crown fits perfectly over the tooth and seamlessly blends into the surrounding oral structures.

The crown itself is shaped much like an outer cap that has the exact shape as the natural tooth peak and is designed like a hollow shell. In order to ensure a perfect fit the interior core is designed such that it securely fastens onto the natural tooth so as to prevent any potential bacterial colonization on the tooth surface underneath. Aside from the actual design and fit, choosing the right shade for the crown is also vital since the actual shells are primarily composed of composite porcelain or ceramic that cannot be bleached or whitened post production. Thus selecting a shade closest to your original teeth layer can be vital to ensuring a natural, flawless finish.

Implanting the Crown

Once the lab creates the permanent crown in keeping with the impression recorded, the shell can be anchored onto the natural tooth stump or the spaced gum tissue. To begin with, your prosthodontist will want to adequately prepare you for the procedure and may recommend appropriate anesthesia. This is even more critical for individuals who have had prior root canal therapy since the instruments may often come close to or brush against the superficial gingival tissue.

Some amount of prior preparation is called for before actually anchoring the crown onto the tooth surface. For instance, past tooth fillings may need to be removed and your dentist may also look for cavities or evident decay to help ensure that no follow-up work is required once the crown is in place. The crown itself is cemented in, and in some cases if a temporary shell is in place this will be removed prior to inserting the actual permanent crown.

While dental crowns are typically cemented in as standalone restoration, in patients with deeper oral problems an implant may be called for. Be sure to consult your specific oral condition with a competent prosthodontist for a thorough evaluation to help choose the treatment approach customized to your needs.