Finding A Great Dentist

4 Things To Know About Dental Crowns

16 June 2021

Kenzi Thompson

Dental crowns are used often in dentistry. They top implants, make up a bridge, and cover or repair damaged teeth. An implant can even replace a missing tooth or save a bad tooth. If you're going to get a crown, you may wonder what the process involves. Here are some things to know.

Porcelain Is A Common Type

Porcelain crowns are common because porcelain is a close match to natural enamel when it comes to appearance. Besides being white, porcelain reflects light and has a slight shine like natural tooth material. These crowns are ideal for use on front teeth because they look so natural.

However, you have choices in materials for your dental crown. For instance, you might prefer a gold alloy. These crowns have a distinct appearance, and they are actually very durable and a good choice for back chewing teeth. Other types of metal crowns are available too, but these aren't options if you have a metal allergy as many people do.

If cost is a factor, then you may want a resin crown. These can be color-matched to your other teeth, but resin has a flat appearance, so these crowns might be slightly noticeable. If you want a porcelain crown, you can choose one made only of porcelain, or you can choose a crown topped with porcelain that has an inner base of metal that adds strength and durability to the crown.

You Sometimes Get A Temporary Crown

Dental work is often done in stages. Rather than leave a gap in your smile while you wait on a crown to be made, your dentist might make a temporary crown in the office that you can wear right away. These don't last long and they don't blend in with your other teeth as well as a permanent crown, but they allow you to chew and smile normally since they fill in one or more missing teeth.

Some Dental Crowns Are Made The Same Day

When you need to get a dental crown, you typically need to wait on your crown to be made in a lab. The dentist makes impressions of your teeth that are then sent to a lab so the crown can be custom-made for your mouth. This could delay getting your crown for a couple of weeks. That's why you might need a temporary crown.

Some dental clinics have equipment in their building that can make dental crowns in just a few hours. If your dentist has this equipment, you can skip the temporary crown and get your permanent crown put in the same day you have your dental work done.

Crowns Need Care Too

Even though a crown doesn't develop cavities, you still need to floss and brush it just as you do natural teeth. That's so you keep the gum around the dental crown healthy and ward off gum disease that could affect the crown or your other teeth. 

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