Cosmetic dentists can use dental crowns to restore teeth that have been damaged by wear and tear, injury, or other problems.
What Is A Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a structure placed over a tooth to give it more strength or an improved appearance. It is often made of porcelain, a glass-like ceramic substance that simulates the look of teeth very closely.
Less expensive materials, such as metal or plastics, may also be used to restore the normal appearance of teeth.
How Crowns Are Made
Each individual’s mouth is different, with teeth that have different shapes and arches. Crowns must be made to both look natural with adjacent teeth and function well for each patient.
The process of creating a crown may be performed in many ways, but a few basic steps are involved:
First, the mold is filled with a suitable material to make the crown. Often molten metal is used, which will provide a hard and durable base for another tooth-colored material, typically plastics or ceramics. The material then cools, providing a hard crown that is then removed from the mold.
Secondly, the tooth must be prepared to receive the new crown or an implant embedded in the gum on which the crown can be affixed. Then the crown is then installed onto the prepared area by using special dental adhesives.
The crown may be adjusted to mesh well with other teeth by grinding mismatched areas. It is polished with an acrylic coating to seal the surface and refine the appearance.
New One-Day Crown Systems
In the past, making crowns often took several visits to the dentist and waiting for the dental laboratory to make the crown in the appropriate shape, color, and size for the patient’s needs. A new method has been developed to allow family dentists to create crowns in one day.
The method involves an in-office digital milling machine that makes the crown from a ceramic material to match surrounding teeth. The use of this equipment eliminates the need to send the mold away to a laboratory, and the crown can be installed in about an hour.
The one-day crown process involves:
- A wand with a small camera attached creates a three-dimensional picture of the tooth and surrounding teeth.
- The computer software then suggests a design for the crown, which the dentist must then adjust as needed.
- The design is then sent digitally to a machine, which carves it out of a block of material.
- The crown is then tested on the patient and minor changes are made if needed.
- The new crown is then installed on the prepared tooth or implant and adjusted further, as needed.
Once in place, crowns do not need special care. However, the tooth under it is still prone to decay. It is advisable to use antibacterial mouthwash daily for added protection. Schedule a visit with us today to get your tooth fixed and achieve that dazzling smile.