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dental
crowns / dental "caps"
Dental
crowns (also sometimes referred to as "dental caps" or "tooth caps")
are dental restorations that cover over
and encase the tooth on which they are cemented. Dentists utilize
dental crowns when rebuilding broken or
decayed teeth, as a way to strengthen
teeth, and method by which the cosmetic
appearance of a tooth can be improved.
Our pages will help you understand the
reasons why dental crowns are placed and what
steps a dentist must take when making one. We'll also give you
an idea of how
long a dental crown might last, what events can lead up to the
need for replacing
a crown, how
much dental crowns can cost, and what alternatives
there are to the placement of a crown.
What
are dental crowns?
Crowns are a type of dental restoration which, when cemented into
place, fully cup over the portion of a tooth which lies at and above
the gum line. In comparison, fillings are dental restorations that
are used to fill in or cover over just a portion of a tooth. Since
dental crowns encase the entire visible aspect of a tooth, a dental
crown in effect becomes the tooth's new outer surface.
Crowns can be made out of porcelain (or some other ceramic material),
gold (or metal alloys), or a combination of both. Dental crowns are
often referred to as "dental caps" or "tooth caps".
Why
do teeth need dental crowns?
A
dentist might recommend placing a dental crown for a variety of reasons
but, in general, most of these reasons will usually fall within one
of the following basic categories:
- To
restore a tooth to its original shape.
- To
strengthen a tooth.
- To
improve the cosmetic appearance of a tooth.
How
are dental crowns used to restore a tooth's shape?
Since
a dental crown cemented into place essentially becomes the new outer
surface of the tooth it is easy to imagine how the placement of a
crown can restore a tooth to its original shape. Dental crowns are
often made for teeth that have worn excessively, have broken, or else
have had large portions destroyed by tooth decay.
Conceivably the placement of a dental filling could, as an alternative,
be used as a means to restore a tooth's shape. Dental crowns however
offer a big advantage to your dentist over dental fillings by way
of the fact that they are fabricated "away from your mouth". By this
we simply mean that dental crowns are fabricated in a dental laboratory
(by a dental technician who uses plaster molds your teeth made by
your dentist). Dental fillings, in comparison, are created "in your
mouth" by way of your dentist placing the filling material directly
upon your tooth.
When a dental crown is made the dental laboratory technician can visualize
and examine all aspects of your bite and jaw movements, from a variety
of angles, and sculpt your dental crown so it has the perfect anatomy.
In some cases this anatomy will be even more ideal than your tooth's
original shape. When placing a dental filling a dentist has less control
over the final outcome of the shape of your tooth because it is often
difficult for them to visualize, evaluate, and access to the tooth
on which they are working.
How
can dental crowns be used to improve the cosmetic appearance of
teeth?
Since
dental crowns cup over teeth, any dental crown that has a porcelain
surface can be used as a way to idealize the cosmetic appearance of
a tooth. Possibly you have heard it said (especially in past decades)
that such-and-such movie star has had their teeth "capped" (the term
"cap" used here is equivalent to the term "dental crown"). This simply
means that the person has obtained their "Hollywood smile" by way
of having dental crowns placed.
Actually, getting your teeth "capped" so just to improve their appearance
can at times be a very poor choice. Dental crowns are best utilized
as a way to improve the cosmetic appearance of a tooth when the crown
simultaneously serves other purposes also, such as restoring a tooth
to its original shape (repairing a broken tooth) or strengthening
a tooth (covering over a tooth which has an excessively large filling).
In general, dental crowns probably should not be used as a means to
improve the appearance of a tooth if there is any other alternative
dental treatment that could equally satisfactorily achieve the same
cosmetic results. This is because a dentist must grind a significant
portion of a tooth away when a dental crown is made. If a more conservative
dental procedure could equally well improve the tooth's appearance,
such as a porcelain
veneer, dental bonding, or even just teeth
whitening, then it is usually best to consider that treatment
option first.
dental
crowns / dental "caps"
- Page
1
Why do teeth need dental crowns?
- Page
2
Advantages of dental crowns over big fillings.
- Page
3
What are the consequences of not protecting a tooth with a dental
crown?
- Page
4
How do dentists make dental crowns?
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5
Precautions to take with temporary crowns.
What to do if a dental crown comes off.
- Page
6
Porcelain crowns vs gold crowns.
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7
How long do dental crowns last?
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8
How much do dental crowns cost?
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9
Are there alternatives to dental crowns?
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