Dental crowns are a versatile, attractive, and incredibly durable restorative dentistry procedure. Many people might hear the word “tooth crown” and cringe – this is an understandable reaction since crowns are often associated with root canals which are also cringeworthy. But dental crowns have a bad rap.
You and your dentist will discuss the different types of crowns that are available in order to determine what is best for restoring your tooth. Not every dentist offers the same types of crowns, but the options you will learn about include:

  • Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, also known as PFM. These dental crowns are made with a porcelain exterior and metal interior. The porcelain is customized to look exactly like your natural teeth in color and shape so that they blend in seamlessly. The metal makes the crown double strong, though individuals with metal allergies will want to avoid this type of crown.
  • All-ceramic crowns, also referred to as all-porcelain crowns, are strong, durable, and metal-free, which makes them attractive to many patients who value aesthetics, functionality, and a mouth free of metal.
  • Metal crowns, of course, are made completely of metal. Individuals interested in metal crowns typically want to draw attention to their teeth so the crowns will be made of gold or another metal. The durability of this type of crown can’t be beat but this is a lot of metal in your mouth, and noticeable metal at that.
  • Zirconia crowns are becoming a popular choice for their natural appearance, fracture-resistant composition, and friendliness toward patients who have metal allergies.

What’s important to know is that all crowns are intended to fulfill several roles, including:

  • Protecting a weak tooth from fracturing.
  • Holding a dental bridge in its place.
  • Repairing already fractured teeth by replacing lost tooth structure.
  • Restoring misshapen or stained teeth to a natural appearance.

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Preparing for the Dental Crown Procedure
Your part in getting ready to receive a dental crown is easy – show up for your appointment. Far too often, people undergo a root canal treatment then choose not to return to their dentist to complete the rest of the restoration and have their crown put in place. When a tooth is so compromised that there isn’t much of it left, but you opted to not have it pulled in order to preserve your jaw and avoid leaving a gap in your smile, you don’t have to live with jagged, broken edges. Crowns repair your smile quickly and easily and beautifully.
A crown is customized to fit your smile and your mouth and it’s an appointment that often takes only two visits to complete. Some dental offices have an on-site lab that is able to create a crown for you in one visit so it’s unnecessary to make a separate appointment.
Preparing a tooth for a crown, however, is always the same – any decay or build-up must be removed, and the tooth must be shaped in order to make room for the crown to fit seamlessly into your smile. When your crown is ready, you will undergo a fitting to make sure that the crown is the right size and comfortable. From there, the crown is bonded permanently to the remaining tooth structure and your smile is restored to full functionality.
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Make your appointment with Dr. John Moore at Cosmetic Dental Associates in San Antonio to discuss dental crowns and to find out what restorative dentistry solution is right for you.