What Are Crowns and What Types Are There?

Dental Care of Greensboro is proud to offer precise, durable dental crowns using cutting-edge technology and techniques. These restorations are used to repair damaged teeth or mask tooth imperfections. Crowns serve both oral health and cosmetic dentistry purposes by reinforcing the tooth structure while restoring your natural-looking smile.

What Is a Dental Crown?

The anatomy of a tooth is divided into two parts: The crown and root. The crown is the part of the tooth above the gum line, and in people with healthy gums and bone mass, the roots are covered with gums and bone.

A dental crown, otherwise known as a cap, is a restoration that fully encases the visible portion of a tooth to protect its remaining structure. Once cemented into place, it restores the strength of a damaged or weakened tooth, holds it together, and prevents it from breaking apart. Crowns are constructed using resilient and durable materials that endure the chewing pressure, just like your natural teeth.

Why Would You Need a Dental Crown?

We may recommend a dental crown to treat a tooth with decay that is too large or too close to the nerve to restore using a traditional dental filling. You may also need a crown to strengthen and restore the full form and function of a chipped, fractured, or worn down tooth.

Crowns are commonly used after root canal therapy to strengthen teeth and prevent fractures. They also cover dental implants and support dental bridges and dentures. Patients with cracked tooth syndrome can benefit from the use of dental crowns. Chewing can place stress on the fracture lines, causing extreme discomfort. A crown holds the tooth together and redistributes the pressure evenly, eliminating the pain in most cases.

Dental crowns are also used for cosmetic dentistry purposes. They can correct the appearance of stained, discolored, misshaped, or misaligned teeth, with incredible results.

What Are the Common Types of Dental Crowns?

Crowns come in different types of materials. Our team at Dental Care of Greensboro will discuss your options and recommend the best dental restoration for you.

Porcelain fused to metal crownsoffer an excellent restorative option. We can closely match them to the color of your surrounding teeth for natural-looking results. However, at times you can see a dark metal line by the gums, especially if there is gum recession. These crowns work well to support dental bridges as the metal provides the needed strength.

Ceramic or porcelain crowns deliver the best color and texture match than any other type of crown and are incredibly sturdy and durable. Ceramic crowns offer an excellent restorative solution for people who have minimal space within the mouth or those who desire the best aesthetic results.

What Are Partial Crowns?

Partial Crowns, or inlays and onlays, offer a conservative tooth restorative solution for teeth that are too damaged to be repaired using dental fillings but do not have sufficient damage to warrant the use of crowns. Inlays are typically bonded to the chewing surfaces of damaged teeth, while onlays replace one or more tooth cusps. Partial crowns are incredibly durable, often lasting 30 years or more.

What Are the Steps of Placing a Dental Crown?

Placing a crown typically requires two dental appointments. After determining that a crown is necessary, we will begin with the preparation of the tooth, which involves removing a layer of enamel to make room for your restoration. We will take an impression of the area to send to a dental laboratory for fabrication and will place a temporary crown to cover and protect your prepared tooth.

During a follow-up appointment, we will check your new crown for proper fit and make any needed adjustments before cementing it in place. Once your procedure is complete, you’ll be amazed at how natural your smile looks and feels!

Caring for Your Restored Teeth

Make sure to brush and floss every day to keep your mouth healthy and free from disease. Refrain from grinding or clenching your teeth or biting down on hard foods or objects to prevent chipping or fracturing your teeth or crowns. Don’t forget to schedule your periodic dental exams and cleanings to allow us to monitor your oral health and your restorations.

Quality Crowns in Greensboro

Contact Dental Care of Greensboro to learn more about restoring your smile using dental crowns. We are committed to providing our patients with quality, durable restorations for long-term healthy smiles. You can always count on us for care that exceeds your expectations. Call us and schedule your appointment today!

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At Dental Care of Greensboro, we offer cutting-edge preventive, restorative, and cosmetic procedures at our state-of-the-art facility. We look forward to helping you keep your smile healthy and confident for a lifetime!
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