A dental crown is a tooth-shaped "cap" that is placed over a tooth -- covering the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and/or to improve
its appearance.
The crowns, when cemented into place, fully encase the entire visible
portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.
Why Is a Dental Crown Needed?
A dental crown may be needed in the following situations:
To protect a weak tooth (for instance, from decay) from breaking or to hold
together parts of a cracked tooth
To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn
down
To cover and support a tooth with a large filling
when there isn't a lot of tooth left
Permanent crowns can be made from all metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, all
resin, or all ceramic.
Metals used in crowns include gold alloy, other alloys (for example,
palladium) or a base-metal alloy (for example, nickel or chromium). Compared
with other crown types, less tooth structure needs to be removed with metal
crowns, and tooth wear to opposing teeth is kept to a minimum. Metal crowns
withstand biting and chewing forces well and probably last the longest in terms
of wear down. Also, metal crowns rarely chip or break. The metallic color is the main
drawback. Metal crowns are a good choice for out-of-sight molars.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal
dental crowns can be color matched to your
adjacent teeth (unlike the metallic crowns). However, more wearing to the
opposing teeth occurs with this crown type compared with metal or resin crowns.
The crown's porcelain portion can also chip or break off. Next to all-ceramic
crowns, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns look most like normal teeth. However,
sometimes the metal underlying the crown's porcelain can show through as a dark
line, especially at the gum line and even more so if your gums recede. These
crowns can be a good choice for front or back teeth.
All-resin dental crowns are less expensive than other crown types.
However, they wear down over time and are more prone to fractures than
porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
All-ceramic or all-porcelain dental crowns provide the best natural
color match than any other crown type and may be more suitable for people with
metal allergies. However, they are not as strong as porcelain-fused-to-metal
crowns and they wear down opposing teeth a little more than metal or resin
crowns. All-ceramic crowns are a good choice for front teeth.
Temporary versus permanent.
Temporary crowns can be made in your
dentist's office whereas permanent crowns are made in a dental laboratory.
Temporary crowns are made of acrylic or stainless steel and can be used as a
temporary restoration until a permanent crown is constructed by the dental
laboratory.
Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, is a disorder of the temporomandibular joint(s) that causes signs and symptoms including ear pain, bite problems, headaches, dizziness, clicking sounds in the jaw, tinnitus and/or locked jaws. Behaviors or conditions that can lead to TMJ include teeth grinding or clenching, fingernail biting, habitual gum chewing, trauma to the jaw, stress, and occupational hazards. Treatment for TMJ may include heat, ice, a soft diet, antiinflammatory medications, physical therapy, stress management, occlusal therapy, correction of bite abnormalities, and surgery.
Toothache usually refers to pain around the teeth or jaws. In most instances, toothaches are caused by tooth or jaw problems, such as a dental cavity, a cracked tooth, an exposed tooth root, gum disease, disease of the jaw joint (TMJ), or spasms of the muscles used for chewing. A toothache can also be caused by a problem that does not originate from a tooth or the jaw, like diseases of the heart (angina or heart attack), ear infections, and sinus infections. A thorough oral examination, which includes dental X-rays, can help determine the cause.
An allergy refers to a misguided reaction by our immune system in response to bodily contact with certain foreign substances. When these allergens come in contact with the body, it causes the immune system to develop an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to it. It is estimated that 50 million North Americans are affected by allergic conditions. The parts of the body that are prone to react to allergies include the eyes, nose, lungs, skin, and stomach. Common allergic disorders include hay fever, asthma, allergic eyes, allergic eczema, hives, and allergic shock.
Gum disease is caused by plaque and may result in tooth loss without proper treatment. Symptoms and signs of gum disease (gingivitis or periodontal disease) include receding gums, bad breath and pocket formation between the teeth and gums. Treatment depends upon the stage of the gum disease, how you responded to earlier treatments, and your overall health.
Bruxism is the medical term for teeth grinding. Bruxism may be caused by stress or anxiety and often happens during sleep. Symptoms and signs include jaw pain, headache, and abnormalities in your teeth. Treatment may involve practicing stress-management techniques, cutting back on caffeine and alcohol, avoiding gum chewing, training oneself not to grind the teeth, and wearing a mouth guard.
Dental injuries range from a chipped or fractured tooth to a knocked out tooth. Treatment depends upon the severity of the dental injury. Dental injuries may be prevented by aligning protruding front teeth with braces and using face masks and mouthguards while playing sports.
Dental implants are replacement tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement
teeth that are made to match your natural teeth.
What Are the Advantages of Dental Implants?
There are many advantages to dental implants, including:
Improved appearance. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. And because they are designed to fuse with
bone, they become permanent.
Improved speech. With poor-fitting dentures, the teeth can slip within the mouth causing you to mumble or slur your
words. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that your teeth might slip.
Improved comfort. Because they become part of you, implants eliminate the discomfort of removable dentures.
Easier eating. Sliding dentures can make chewing difficult. Dental implants function like you...
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