Questions And Answers About Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are often used during restorative and cosmetic dental treatments. Here are a few questions and answers about ceramic dental crowns:

What type of ceramic is used?

The dental ceramic used to create crowns is typically porcelain. The product can be colored to match the natural color of your other teeth. In addition, the translucent nature of the ceramic material looks like natural tooth enamel.

How long does it take for a dentist to install a ceramic dental crown?

A crown can be installed within a few minutes. However, the crown's preparation may cause the crown placement procedure to be handled during two different dental visits. 

During the first dental visit, the dentist will likely make a mold or impression of your oral cavity, so the dental lab will have a guide to fashion a ceramic crown that fits the contours of your mouth precisely. The process of sending the impression to the lab, having the lab fabricate the crown and forwarding the ceramic crown back to the dental office for installation may take a couple of weeks. In the interim, the dentist may place a temporary crown over the affected tooth to protect it until the permanent ceramic crown is placed. 

There are instances, such as the installation of a same-day ceramic crown, in which the crown can be created and installed during the same dental visit. Same-day crowns are created in the dental office using specialized CAD/CAM technology. Three-dimensional digital images are taken of your mouth and used by a computerized milling machine to produced the same-day ceramic crown. 

What types of restorations and cosmetic applications use ceramic dental crowns?

A ceramic dental crown is typically used is several different restorative procedures, such as the following:

  • Root canals
  • Large cavities
  • Dental bridges
  • Dental implants
  • Repair of chipped or broken teeth
  • Covering of misshapen teeth

What other crown materials can be selected as an alternative to a ceramic crown?

Dental crowns can be fashioned from multiple materials, such as porcelain, porcelain-over-metal, stainless steel, gold, metal alloy or resin. Stainless steel is normally used in pediatric dentistry due to its low cost. However, tooth-colored crowns, such as the porcelain, porcelain over metal, and resin crowns are often preferred by adults. Resin is the least durable among the tooth-colored crown options. 

To learn more about crown options and how they may apply to your dental needs, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your area.

For ceramic crowns, contact a dental office such as Pittsburgh Dental Spa.


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