If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to improve your smile and enhance your oral function, you may want to give dental crowns in WHITE ALIGN DENTAL CARE a try. Dental crowns are artificial tooth caps that help strengthen weakened teeth while at the same time improving their appearance.
WHAT ARE DENTAL CROWNS?
Your teeth are strong, but they can get damaged because of injuries, tooth decay, or wear and tear. Damaged teeth will eventually lose their usual size and shape. These physical alterations can compromise their ability to function efficiently, which is why dentists recommend you reinforce them with dental crowns.
A dental crown is an artificial tooth cap that your dentist will place over an affected tooth to restore its look, strength, size, shape, and function. Dental crowns only cover the visible part of your teeth.
When should we have a dental crown treatment?
The dentist will advise crown treatment if they determine that the teeth are unhealthy, at high risk of fracture, have large cracked or decayed teeth, or have previously undergone root canal treatment. In addition, dentists usually recommend crown treatment for those who want to change the shape and position of their teeth or the occlusion in cases where orthodontic treatment is not possible or need alternatives to braces. Crown treatment can help with the following dental issues:
- Broken tooth, chipped tooth, cracked tooth.
- Tooth decay with a large hole
- A tooth that has undergone root canal treatment
- Malocclusion of tooth
- Misshapen tooth
What Does Getting a Crown Involve?
The process may be different for each type of dental crown, too. In general, getting a crown involves:
- Your dentist will prepare your tooth, which can involve just the removal of decay, a root canal, or both.
- Your dentist takes a impression or scans your teeth so that the crown fits the exact shape of your tooth.
- A temporary restoration is used to protect the tooth until the crown is ready. You should take special care of this temporary cap and avoid eating hard or sticky foods to prevent it from cracking.
- After about a week, your dentist will have the crown ready.
What Type of Dental Crown Should I Choose? 5 Main Types
When you need a crown, you immediately start thinking about the types of dental crowns and costs. This is because today there are many different types of crowns that vary depending on materials, cost, procedures, and patient’s needs.
The main types of crowns used in dentistry include:
1. Gold crowns
Gold crowns are in fact a combination of copper and other metals, such as nickel or chromium. The main advantage of gold crowns is their strength and durability.
For back restorations -and depending on each patient’s needs- some dentists may suggest a gold crown as the preferred option. However, gold crowns don’t make a very popular choice today due to their color and aesthetics.
Main ADVANTAGES of gold crowns:
- They are strong and highly resistant
- They last a long time if properly cared for
- Less proportion of your natural tooth needs to be removed
- They wear down quite slowly, just like natural enamel
- They are ideal for posterior restorations (back teeth), especially second molars
Main DISADVANTAGES of gold crowns:
- Poor aesthetics: They obviously don’t look like a natural tooth
- Gold alloy crowns can affect some people and produce some side effects such as allergic reactions or swelling
This is definitely the most popular type of crown used nowadays. They are entirely made of porcelain material.
Some ADVANTAGES are:
- Porcelain or ceramic crowns provide the best and most natural look. They match your surrounding teeth in shape, size, and color.
- The best option for front teeth restorations.
- They are biocompatible: that means no metal is used, so they are toxic-free.
However, the main DISADVANTAGES of porcelain crowns are:
- They are not as strong as metal crowns. Porcelain crowns can last a long time, but they have to be well taken care of.
- Patients who suffer from bruxism should opt for gold of PFM
- They may be more costly than other types of crowns, such as metal crowns.
3. Porcelain Fused-to-Metal Crowns (PFM)
Porcelain fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns are another widely used type of dental crowns. They provide both strength (due to their metal structure) and aesthetics (due to the porcelain coat that covers the cap).
The main ADVANTAGES of PFM crowns are:
- They provide great aesthetics and durability
- They’ve been around for over 50 years. We know they work well.
- They are less costly than all porcelain crowns
However, the DISADVANTAGES of PFMs include:
- The metal in these crowns may cause a grey line at the gumline. This may not give the 100% aesthetic look that all porcelain crowns provide.
- For people who clench their teeth, this type of crown may wear down more easily against the opposing teeth.
4. Zirconia Crowns
Zirconium is a relatively new material that combines the strength of metal with the aesthetics of porcelain crowns. High translucent zirconia and layered zirconia crowns have become a more popular choice lately.
The main ADVANTAGES of zirconia crowns are:
- They provide great aesthetics
- They are strong and long-lasting (less possibilities of chipping or breaking).
- The process can be less time consuming because zirconia can be cut and shaped at the same dental office. There’s no need to send them over to a dental lab.
- Zirconia Crowns are less likely to wear down due to their strength.
- They are biocompatible: as metal free crowns, they are not likely to cause allergic reactions.
5. E- MAX: Lithium Disilicate Crowns
The newest type of crown in dentistry today is known as E -Max. It is a type of all-ceramic crown made of lithium disilicate (which is also light and thin).
The main ADVANTAGES of E-max crowns are:
- Great aesthetics. They look great in your mouth.
- They can be durable and very strong.
- They provide a great choice both for front and back teeth.
What Is The Cost of Dental Crowns?
Now that you have an idea of the different options for dental crowns, you surely want to know the cost of the different types of dental crowns and cost
Well, this will vary depending on the material used and the preparation required. For example, all porcelain crowns are in general more costly than metal ones.
Moreover, in some instances a core build-up is required to help protect the integrity of the tooth before a crown can be placed.
Other times, dentists need to perform a gingivectomy or minor gum surgery, procedure in which part of the gums are cut away in the mouth to ensure better aesthetics or prognosis of the tooth or teeth.
In the worst case scenario, you might also need a root canal, in which case the overall cost of the procedure could easily double.
To book an appointment with us at, ‘White Align Dental Care’– call us on +91- 8411813531. We pride ourselves to have the best cosmetic dentist in South Delhi. You can also mail us on whitealign.dentalcare@gmail.com.