Porcelain Crown In the case of a tooth that is severely damaged, a crown may be needed to cover it. Crowns protect your tooth from subsequent damage or infection and also help you eat and speak more naturally. Crowns may also be essential in other types of dental restorations, such as supporting a dental bridge. For teeth toward the front of the mouth, aesthetics are slightly more important than strength and durability. These teeth are more noticeable, and they are not heavily involved in chewing. For these teeth, Wy'East Dental recommends porcelain crowns.Porcelain vs. Other MaterialsThere are three main materials used for adult crowns. These include porcelain, composite resin, and metal. The most commonly used metal is gold, which is strong and durable, but it does not look natural. Alternatively, porcelain and composite resin both offer a much more natural look, but porcelain is stronger than composite resin. Composite resin is generally considered the most affordable option, but it has a shorter lifespan compared to porcelain and metal. Types of CrownsWe work with a few different types of porcelain crowns. For instance, there are both traditional and same-day porcelain crowns. Traditional porcelain crowns tend to fit better and look more natural, but they can require a few weeks for processing. Same-day crowns eliminate the wait time, but they do not fit or function as well. You will have a temporary crown during the porcelain crown manufacturing. We also work with crowns of different sizes. Traditionally, people think of full-size porcelain crowns, which cover the entire tooth. However, when some of the natural tooth can be preserved, we can provide a three-quarter crown, also known as an onlay. Onlays will cover your tooth's chewing surface, called the cusp, but they allow part of the natural tooth to remain. Porcelain Crown ProductionTraditional porcelain crowns are completed within two visits, which are a few weeks apart. The first appointment is when our dentist will treat your dental condition and clean the tooth. We use local anesthesia to ensure you do not feel the dental work being performed. Once the area has been cleaned, our dentist will polish and reshape the tooth so that we can easily make a dental impression. You will then get a temporary crown while you wait. We then send your dental impression to a dental lab. The lab manufactures your porcelain crown to fit your dental impression perfectly. They will then provide us with your crown, and we will contact you to schedule the porcelain crown placement. The second appointment begins with our dentist removing your temporary crown. Our dentist will once again clean and polish the tooth to ensure that the porcelain crown can fit over it nicely. After placing the porcelain crown, our dentist checks the fit and makes any final adjustments needed. We can then place the porcelain crown permanently using dental cement, which we can harden under a special light. Porcelain crowns are more fragile than metal, so you will need to be cautious about eating hard or sticky foods. For additional information on porcelain crowns, call Wy'East Dental at (503) 919-2802. |
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