What is dental crowning?

A crown is a cover or cap to put over your tooth. A crown restores a damaged or missing tooth to its normal shape, size and function. A crown can protect the tooth or improve the way it looks.

A dental crown is usually recommended by a dentist for these reasons:

-> Support a tooth that has large filling when there is not enough natural tooth structure remaining

-> Attach a bridge to replace missing teeth

-> Protect a weak tooth from fracturing

-> Restore a fractured tooth

-> Cover a badly shaped or discoloured tooth

-> Cover a dental implant

What are dental crowns made of?

Permanent crowns can be made of many varied materials. These materials can include:

-> Metal: There are several metals that can be used in dental crowns, including gold, palladium, nickel, and chromium. Metal crowns rarely chip or break, they last the longest in terms of wear down and only require a small amount of your tooth to be removed. They can also withstand biting and chewing forces. The metallic colour is the main drawback of this type of crown. Metal crowns are an excellent choice for out-of-sight molars.

-> Porcelain-fused-to-metal: This type of dental crown can be matched to the colour of the teeth that is adjacent to the crown, creating a more natural look. However, the metal under the crown’s porcelain cap may show through as a dark line. Other cons include the chance of the crown’s porcelain portion chipping or breaking off and the crown wearing down the teeth opposite it within the mouth. This wear on the other teeth specifically affects the teeth that come into contact with the crown on the top and bottom of your mouth when it’s closed. Porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns can be an excellent choice for front or back teeth.

-> All-resin: Dental crowns made of resin are generally less expensive than other crown types. However, they wear down over time and are more likely to break than porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.

-> All-ceramic or all-porcelain: These types of dental crowns provide the best natural colour match compared to any other crown type. They are also an appropriate choice if you have metal allergies. However, they are not as strong as porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. They can also wear down the teeth opposite them in the mouth a little more than metal or resin crowns. All-ceramic crowns are a good choice for front teeth.

-> Pressed ceramic: These dental crowns have a hard inner core. Pressed ceramic dental crowns replace the metal liner that’s used in the all-ceramic crown-making process. Pressed ceramic crowns are capped with porcelain, which provides the best natural colour match. They are also more long-lasting than an all-porcelain crown.

You want your crown to look natural and fit comfortably in your mouth. To decide which material to use for your crown, you and your dentist will consider many factors, such as:

-> the tooth’s location and function

-> the position of the gum tissue

-> the amount of tooth that shows when you smile

-> the colour or shade of the surrounding teeth

Costs and insurance should also be discussed and considered. After you and your dentist have looked at these factors, you might want to talk about your personal preference.

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