When it comes to your teeth, fixing a broken or damaged tooth can prove a tricky undertaking. Dentists have an array of tools and dental procedures at their disposal to help with your broken tooth repair needs, and one of the most popular options remains dental crowns. Figuring out if dental crowns are the right choice for your oral health needs requires knowing the ins and outs of dental crowns.
The Complete Dental team is here to help you fully understand how dental crowns can help improve your oral health, the different types of crowns, tooth crown costs, and other pressing questions!
What IS a Dental Crown?
The first thing you want to learn about dental crowns is the most fundamental question you can ask — what is a dental crown? Dental crowns prove their usefulness when you want to fix a broken tooth without removing the whole tooth. The crown acts as a cap placed over the damage, and it protects the tooth from further damage and decay. It fits snuggly over the damaged area and can be used for any of your teeth.
Do you have a molar in the back of your mouth that’s been chipped? Or do your front teeth need some help to match the natural teeth on either side? Dental crowns can help give you confidence in your smile that you have lacked in recent years.
What Are the Most Common Materials for Dental Crowns?
For patients who are self-conscious about their smiles, anything done to their teeth has to look as natural as possible. You want the damaged portion of the tooth to look as similar as possible to the adjacent teeth as you can, and the type of material you choose for your crown directly impacts that.
The most common materials that you can choose for your dental crowns include:
- Porcelain
- Ceramic
- Metal
- Composite Resin
Of these materials, ceramic and porcelain crowns look the most similar to the natural color of your teeth. However, composite resin, metal, and porcelain fused to metal crowns have a longer lifespan than other crown types. Choosing which option you are most comfortable with depends on your personal feelings and situation.
Temporary Crowns Vs. Permanent Crowns
When it comes time to get your mouth ready for dental crowns, you need to know what kind of crowns you can expect. The two most common types of crowns are temporary and permanent crowns. Each type has a specific purpose, and during your crown procedure, you will interact with both types at one point.
Temporary crowns typically get made at your dentist’s office from an acrylic or stainless steel material to act as a quick way to combat further tooth decay. Permanent crowns are created in a dental laboratory and require more time — and a higher crown cost — before being placed over a tooth.
How Many Visits Will the Dental Crown Procedure Take?
Dental crown procedures take place over the course of two visits to your dentist’s office. The first visit consists of examining the broken tooth, measuring the size of the damaged area, preparing the area for the dental implant, and potentially using a temporary crown to cover the affected area.
Your second visit will have the permanent crown put in place and checked to ensure that the color of the new permanent crown matches up with the surrounding teeth as best as possible. The permanent crown will be cemented into place, and your teeth will look good as new.
Get Your New Dental Crowns at Complete Dental!
For the dental patients in Houston, TX, looking for a trusted dentist to handle their dental crown needs, you don’t have to look further than Complete Dental! Our team of experienced dentists will help walk you through every step of the dental crown procedure and help you feel at ease. Contact our office and schedule your next dental appointment, and don’t forget to ask us about our payment options and offers!