Dental crowns are a great solution for a cracked, damaged, decaying, or broken tooth surface that may be making it painful to eat, drink, or talk. You can restore the full function of your bite and smile with the use of restorative dental crowns from San Antonio family dentistry clinic, Southtown Dental Group.
San Antonio family dentist Dr. Gary Guillory can ease your pain and restore your full bite and smile using restorative dental crowns. With over twenty years of experience with general, cosmetic and restorative dentistry, you know that you can trust “Your Neighborhood Dentist” with correcting your smile with affordable dental crowns!
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is an artificial tooth replacement option for a broken, damaged, or missing tooth that is affecting the way you bite, chew, and smile. These crowns, resembling “caps,” effectively replace the upper portion of a tooth, typically including the chewing surface. Crowns are only placed when Dr. Guillory is unable to save the majority of the natural tooth, due to extensive damage or decay. By replacing the affected area, patients are saving the appearance of their smile and the overall function of their bite.
Crowns can be used for great effect in dental bridges.
How do San Antonio Dental Crowns work?
San Antonio TX crowns dentist Dr. Guillory uses only the best dental crowns for his patients that balance both aesthetics and function to provide a long-lasting replacement solution.
Before the doctor can place the crowns, he first has to ensure that the ailing tooth is as healthy as it can be before the crown is placed on top of it. This would mean cleaning out any of the decayed or broken areas, so that the tooth does not lose structural integrity later on. An impression of the tooth must then be taken in order for the crown to fit perfectly.
After the tooth has been cleaned up, a temporary crown will be placed until the custom-formed permanent crown has been completed. Once the permanent one is complete, the doctor must place it and be sure that everything is set correctly.
If you are interested in learning more about a San Antonio dental crown, or another one of our fantastic San Antonio cosmetic dentistry procedures, please schedule an appointment online or via phone at: 210-227-0101 to speak with Dr. Guillory or a Southtown Dental Group dentistry professional.
Types of Crowns
There are different types of crowns, but they are all used for the same purpose. A crown can only be used if the majority of the tooth is still in place. Examples of when a crown usage include:
- Restoration of a broken, cracked, or decaying tooth
- Covering a tooth implant
- Protecting and covering a tooth with a large filling when not much of the tooth surface is remaining
- Protection of a weak tooth
- Holding a dental bridge in place
- Protection of a tooth after a root canal
- Covering a discolored tooth (if for cosmetic reasons only, porcelain veneers may be a different option)
There are a few different types of crowns, and they all have pros and cons.
Crowns made from gold or alloys are extremely durable. They form a strong bond with the existing tooth and almost never fracture or break. They do not wear away at the opposing tooth within the bite. The downside is that they are metal and are not cosmetically pleasing so they are best used on back teeth.
All porcelain (ceramic) crowns can be matched in color to surrounding teeth and are an especially good choice for upper front teeth. They are generally 10% – 20% more expensive than metal crowns, and not quite as durable since porcelain can crack or chip. All porcelain crowns are not good for molars or lower front teeth because the risk of breakage is higher. Additionally, porcelain crowns can sometimes wear down opposing teeth though this is something that would be seen at regular dental appointments.
Fortunately, there is another type of crown known as “Porcelain Fused to Metal” which is the best of both worlds. They are much more durable than all porcelain crowns and less likely to chip because the inside is made out of metal alloys. The visible part of the crown (the outside) is porcelain and blends in with surrounding teeth. Dentists often use these on back and lower front teeth.
There is a newer type of crown called “Pressed Over Metal” that is similar to “Porcelain Fused to Metal,” but has a different method of manufacturing and uses a stronger type of ceramic.
The only time these porcelain/metal crowns may show is if the gum line recedes, in which case the underlying metal edge may show slightly just at the gum line.
