DENTAL CROWNS

Damage to your teeth can have serious consequences on your oral health. Not only is your appearance affected, if left untreated, the damage could worsen. Damage that extends into the dentin can quickly lead to an infection inside the tooth. At National Dental Hicksville, your oral health is our top priority. With crowns, we can protect compromised teeth from more serious damage, and restore the health of your smile.

WHAT ARE DENTAL CROWNS?

When your teeth suffer damage, especially damage that is more than minor, the health and safety of your teeth are compromised. A crack in a tooth may grow larger, a tooth may shatter under too much force. In many cases, a crown can be used to restore a damaged tooth, avoiding the need for a tooth extraction. A crown is like a small “cap” that covers the entire visible portion of your natural tooth. It holds your tooth together while providing it strength. It also protects the tooth from further damage as well as an invasion by bacteria.

TYPES OF DENTAL CROWNS

Crowns are made out of a variety of different materials. Each material has its own advantages, as well as its own drawbacks:

• Metal: Metal crowns (silver or gold crowns) are by far the strongest crowns available. They are practically indestructible, and can hold up under the greatest biting and chewing forces exerted by your teeth. Metal is rather popular for use on back teeth for this reason. However, the crown is highly noticeable due to its color. And in some instances, there are some patients who are allergic.
• Porcelain fused to metal (PFM): PFM crowns have been designed as a way to provide the strength of metal while creating a more aesthetically pleasing restoration. The porcelain on the exterior of the crown is made to mimic the color of your natural teeth. However, there are often times when a metal line shows through the porcelain, giving it away. PFM crowns are also not a good option for those with allergies to metal.
• Ceramic: Ceramic crowns are the best option available for aesthetic purposes. The entire restoration is made from ceramic, which imitates the color as well as the light reflecting properties of natural enamel. Ceramic is not as strong as metal, but it can hold up well under normal biting and chewing forces.

DENTAL CROWN PLACEMENT PROCEDURE

Placing your crown is done under a local anesthetic. We then start the process by preparing your tooth. This simply means that we trim (or remove) some of the enamel of the affected tooth, creating space for the restoration. Once the tooth has been prepared, we then take an impression of your mouth. This impression is used to custom fabricate your crown in our lab. In many cases, it can take up to two weeks for your final crown to be ready, so we will provide you with a temporary crown in the meantime, which will provide some protection. Once your crown is ready, we check it for fit, and to make sure the color blends in with the rest of your teeth, and cement it into place.

BENEFITS OF DENTAL CROWNS

There are several benefits to the use of crowns:

• Provides strength and support for a weakened or damaged tooth.
• Protects a vulnerable tooth from infection.
• Protection following a root canal.
• Ceramic crowns can provide an aesthetic fix for damaged teeth.
• Holding a fixed bridge in place.
• Capping dental implants.
• Restores the health and functions of your mouth.

A crown is can help to prevent the need for an extraction. For more information, or to schedule your consultation, contact National Dental Hicksville today at (516) 629-5086.