Dental Crowns (general info)

When teeth are badly damaged, dentalcrowns are a popular and useful treatment option. Dental crowns aretooth-shaped coverings, comprised of metal, ceramic or porcelain, designed torestore the strength of teeth and eliminate the discomfort than can occur whenteeth are damaged. The type of crown your cosmetic dentist chooses depends uponyour goals and needs.

Porcelain crowns may berecommended for:

• Teeth with large, structurally damaged fillings
• Teeth that have suffered trauma
• Bridge attachment
• Restoration of unstable, weakened or cracked teeth
• Protection of a tooth after a root canal or other endodontic treatment
• Protection of a dental implant
• Severely discolored or misshapen teeth

Metal crowns are more frequently used to repair damagedor decayed back teeth, since the dark color caused at the gum line can beaesthetically unattractive for front teeth repairs. Metal crowns are verydurable and require less removal of enamel than ceramic or all porcelain crowns.Gold, chromium and nickel alloys and palladium may all be included in thecreation of metal crowns.

Ceramic crowns are crafted from resins, dental ceramicsand/or porcelain. Ceramic crowns are very natural looking and a good option forfront teeth. Ceramic is translucent and can be matched to your natural toothcolor for a more aesthetically pleasing finished result. Ceramic crowns are notas durable as metal and are not suitable to sustain the heavy biting forces ofback teeth.

Porcelain crowns are fused to metal. They are strongerthan ceramic crowns and more attractive than metal crowns.

TheDental Crown Procedure

Porcelain is the material of choice for many cosmeticdentists. In Studio City, California, the skilled cosmetic dentistsat Smiles By Sands prefer the “Lava™ crown,” a type of crown that isintricately detailed for strength and designed with beauty in mind. Thetranslucent components of the Lava crown are durable and can be shaded to matchyour natural tooth shade. Careful skill is required to create and place theLava crown, and years of experience are needed to perfect the art of coloringand the science of seamless bonding that provide an excellent restoration.

For some individuals, replacing old crowns is a concern.In some cases, the metal shell of porcelain crowns shows through on the frontteeth near the gumline. Wear, improper fit or decay may be other reasons toreplace dental crowns. For most people, new crowns will last 10 years or morebefore needing replacement.