Capping Broken Teeth Dental decay is one of the most common problems for which people approach a dentist. The dentist will correct this problem usually using a filling of different types of materials. But, if the decayed area is very large, just placing a filling will not be enough as they might get fractured. In such cases, the tooth will need to be protected by capping it with an appropriate dental crown. A crown might also be required to restore the appearance as well as function of a fractured tooth. Another instance where crowns are necessary is following root canal therapy. Dental Crowns Types There are various different materials that can be used for making a crown. Some of the different types that are usually made are:gold crowns, metal crowns, porcelain fused to metal crowns and full ceramic crowns Crowns made of full gold was the most sought after material for making crowns in the past. However, these are no longer used much, as they are not aesthetic, while being highly expensive. Another option that is highly popular for use in back teeth are full metal crowns. These are preferred due to their high strength and their reduced cost in comparison to crowns of other types. Porcelain Fused with Metal is another popular option for making dental crowns. This popularity is due to the aesthetic value that they provide while being strong enough for use. They are also less expensive than the crowns that are constructed only out of ceramic. The most recent type is the full ceramic or the full porcelain crowns. By itself, ceramic is highly brittle and will fracture if high stress is exerted on it. As metal reduces the aesthetic value in porcelain fused to metal dental crowns, full ceramic crowns are gaining popularity. In order to counter the brittle nature of ceramic, these crowns are prepared by embedding zirconium in the ceramic to provide strength and improved esthetics. But, this type of crowns is more expensive compared to all the other types of dental crowns. Procedure When you approach your dentist for correction of a grossly destroyed tooth or a fractured tooth, the dentist will most likely suggest a crown to protect the tooth. However, some initial procedures will need to be done prior to placing the crown. These procedures may include a root canal treatment (if the pulp of your tooth is involved) or just a restoration of the tooth. Once the initial procedures are complete, the final step would be to prepare the tooth to receive a crown. To prepare for the dental crowns, your dentist may or may not provide sedation. This depends on whether or not a root canal treatment has been done on the tooth. The concerned tooth or teeth that will receive dental crown will be reduced in size on all sides. This is necessary to be able to insert the crown and to provide space for the crown (or else the crown will be bigger in size than the tooth). After the tooth preparation is finished, the dentist prepares a model of your teeth using impressions which are then sent over to a Beverly Hills laboratory to prepare the crown.
Once the crown is prepared, the dentist will try it out on the tooth and see if the fit and size is proper. If it is satisfactory, the dentist will then use an appropriate cement to fix up the crown. This will need proper maintenance like your natural teeth in the form of brushing and flossing. You will need to undergo checkups once in a year to see if they are in place and to check for wear. In case they have worn down, they will need to be replaced by another crown. It is still not too late to save a tooth destroyed by dental decay. Dental crowns are a good option, which while replacing esthetics, will also help you obtain proper function. encina real estate