Dental Crowns: Purpose and Types

Since their invention decades ago, dental crowns in St. Paul have been the go-to option for severely damaged teeth. Crowns are among the most sought-after dental treatments since they are versatile and can solve many dental issues.
Dental issues such as cracked chipped, or decayed teeth will impact your dental aesthetics and oral health.

Since dental technology has evolved so much, we have several types of dental crowns made from various materials that our dentist in Saint Paul can use to alter your smile.

Dental crowns have been used for a long time, can solve many dental issues, and are effective. Let’s dive deeper into the purpose and types of dental crowns.

Why Do You Need a Dental Crown?

Dental crowns near you, sometimes called dental caps, are dental prosthetics that our dentist places over a damaged tooth. For instance, if your tooth has severe decay, the next option might be to remove the tooth. However, placing a dental crown will halt the damage and salvage the tooth, which would otherwise be useless.

In other words, getting dental crowns is another way of extending the life span of a damaged tooth. It restores the function and appearance of a decayed or damaged tooth. When a tooth is not treated, it usually deteriorates until it breaks off or is extracted.

When Do You Need a Dental Crown?

Tooth crowns look like natural teeth. They are custom-designed to fit your teeth so that chewing food or talking won’t be uncomfortable. But to get a dental crown, our dentist has to remove the decayed part by filing the tooth down. However, the tooth will still be shaped to accommodate the dental crown.

In any case, they are versatile and can be used by anyone who desires to do the following:

• Attach tooth bridges
• Cover an implant
• Cover a badly damaged tooth
• Protect a weak tooth
• Encase a tooth with a chunky filling
• Reinforce and restore a cracked or fractured tooth

When the crown encases a tooth, your tooth will be restored to its natural size, shape, and function. In other words, it will look and feel like your natural teeth.

Types of Crowns

Same-Day Crowns

Dental technology comes with many perks, such as cutting treatment time. This is the case with same-day crowns. Instead of waiting for about two weeks to get a dental crown, with same-day crowns, you get them during the same appointment.

Temporary Crowns

These crowns are designed to cover your tooth for a short time; that’s why they are called temporary crowns. These crowns are used when you wait for your permanent crown to be fabricated. Once the permanent crown is ready, our dentist will remove the temporary crown and place the permanent crown.

Types of Crowns Based on Materials Used

Since dental crowns can be fashioned from different materials, you need to know them since the material determines the purpose. Some might go for protective crowns, and others may prefer cosmetic crowns. In any case, here are the materials used:

Porcelain Fused to Metal

Porcelain looks and feels like natural teeth. However, they are more sturdy than your teeth and metallic crowns. Therefore, fusing porcelain with metal will make them sturdy and cosmetically appealing.

• Metals

The metals used to fashion these crowns are nickel, palladium, gold, etc. They are sturdy, so you can expect them not to chip or break. Also, they last much longer than other types of crowns since they are sturdy. They might not be aesthetically pleasing, but they can withstand the chewing force. Hence, best suited for your back teeth.

• Resin

These crowns are made from plastic (resin), which makes them less expensive than all the other crowns. They are tooth-colored, which means they are aesthetically pleasing. However, they wear down much faster than all the other crowns.

• Porcelain

These crowns are made entirely from porcelain. They are very good for front teeth since they resemble your natural teeth. Porcelain is also stain-resistant, meaning you can enjoy a stunning smile for much longer. But remember that metal crowns are sturdy.

The Takeaway

Crowns can be fashioned from various materials, offering patients choices. They are great since they can save your teeth, eliminating the chances of getting a tooth extraction. So, if you are considering getting a tooth crown, contact our dentist in Saint Paul, at Little Canada Dental, to schedule an appointment.