What are crowns?
Crowns address problems with your teeth by covering them. If you get a dental crown at Patrick Ryan, DMD, your dentist designs it to look almost indistinguishable from the tooth that it covers. However, for the crown to fit over the tooth, they must remove some enamel first.
You have a few different options for the material or materials in your crown, but porcelain and ceramic are the most popular because of their similarity to your natural teeth. Crowns can also be made from:
- Silver amalgam
- Gold
- Resin
- Zirconia
- Porcelain fused to metal
With innovations in dental technology, porcelain and ceramic are strong enough to withstand normal bite forces. Still, metal crowns tend to be stronger and might be the better option if you’re treating a molar that withstands a lot of force.
Your dentist goes over the choices with you in detail before starting the process.
Who can benefit from dental crowns?
Dental crowns serve various purposes in restorative dentistry. If your dentist at Patrick Ryan, DMD, recommends a crown, they’ll tell you why and how it will improve your health or oral functioning. A crown can:
- Hold a dental bridge in place
- Replace a tooth by attaching one to a dental implant
- Protect a worn-down or broken tooth from more damage
- Support a tooth after root canal therapy
- Cover a tooth after a cavity
If other treatment options apply to your situation, your dentist at Patrick Ryan, DMD, helps you weigh the benefits of crowns compared with other options. They can also explain the procedure to you in detail so you know what to expect regarding the procedure and the aftercare requirements.
How are dental crowns created?
Generally, dentists make dental crowns after taking images that show the natural tooth’s shape, followed by impressions after they remove the necessary amount of enamel. If you’re getting a crown as an implant restoration, they take impressions of the abutment to make sure the crown fits perfectly.
At Patrick Ryan, DMD, you can get your crown created on the same day as your impressions with chairside economical restoration of esthetic ceramics (CEREC). Your dentist makes digital images of your teeth for computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) purposes.
If you opt for a CEREC crown, it’s ready for attachment the same day. Your dentist secures the crown onto the tooth or implant, where it stays for years.
Learn more about CEREC and traditional crowns by calling Patrick Ryan, DMD, or booking an appointment online today.
