What are Dental Crowns: Types, Procedure and Aftercare

There are many procedures included in general dentistry. Several procedures come under this category, from dentures to dental crowns and fillings. This blog specifically focuses on dental crowns, their types and their aftercare. Simply put, dental crowns are caps placed on top of damaged teeth to protect, cover and restore the shape of your teeth.

Before we dive deeper into the types and aftercare, let’s first understand what dental crowns are.

What are Dental Crowns?

Your teeth can get damaged over time if not taken properly care of. This can happen for many reasons, including injuries, tooth decay or any specific cause over time. Your teeth can lose their shape or size or both simultaneously. Here is when dental crowns come to the rescue. They are tooth-shaped caps placed over your tooth that restore the tooth’s shape, strength, size and appearance. It is cemented into the place on your tooth and covers the visible part of the tooth. 

How are Dental Crowns Made? 

Different types of dental crowns are made of different materials. Usually, a thin layer of metal is formed surrounding a tooth’s and porcelain’s mold, or ceramic is built over it that creates the remaining dental crown.

Why do you Need a Dental Crown? 

Crowns protect, cover and restore the shape of your teeth when the problem remains unsolved by fillings. So whether your tooth has been decayed, chipped or disfigured, a dental crown can set it right. This is why your tooth will need a crown.

What does a Crown do for a Tooth? 

A dental crown is a protective layer over an existing tooth. It helps you in the following ways:

• Improves the way a decayed or broken tooth looks
• Makes a decayed or broken tooth stronger and long-lasting
• Gives your tooth a good shape

A dental crown solves one or all of the above-mentioned issues.

What are the Types of Dental Crowns? 

There are several types of crowns. We’ve enlisted them below.

Stainless Steel Crowns:

These are used on permanent teeth as a temporary measure. It protects the tooth or filling, while a permanent crown is prepared from other materials. This crown covers the entire tooth and prevents it from decaying further. Also, these crowns take fewer dental visits and are more cost-effective.

Porcelain-based Crowns:

These types of crowns will be easily color matched to your teeth. This is not the case with metallic crowns. The crown’s porcelain portion is more likely to get chipped or broken off than ceramic. However, porcelain looks almost like normal teeth, which is not the case with ceramic.

Metallic Crowns:

Metals used in crowns consist of alloys with a high content of platinum or gold or cobalt-chromium and nickel-chromium alloys. These types of crowns can withstand biting and chewing forces so they last long. Also, metallic dental crowns rarely break or chip off.

All-resin Dental Crowns:

These types of dental crowns are less expensive as compared to other types. However, they wear down pretty quickly and are more prone to breaking or chipping off.

Temporary and Permanent Dental Crowns:

Temporary dental crowns can be made in the clinic, while most permanent crowns are made in a laboratory.

Dental Crown Procedure 

Dental crowns require you to visit your dentist at least twice. In the first visit, your doctor will prepare the tooth that requires a crown by taking an impression and then send it to the dental laboratory. 

Crowns typically require that you visit your dentist at least twice. During the first visit, your dentist will prepare the tooth that needs a crown and take an impression to send to the dental laboratory. You’ll receive a temporary crown. Then you’ll return for a second visit to get your permanent crown installed.

Dental Crown Aftercare

Dental crown aftercare is no rocket science. You just need to follow the following points to maintain the crown’s health.

• Avoid stick or hard foods
• Use warm saltwater rinse
• Avoid eating or drinking right after getting a dental crown
• Local anaesthetic will still have its effect so wait till it wears off before consuming food.

Following these simple dental crown aftercare steps will help you take proper care of dental crowns.

How to Take Care of a Crown?

You don’t need specific care for a dental crown. Regular oral hygiene including cleaning them regularly is more than enough to keep them clean and long lasting. 

How Long do Dental Crowns Last? 

Depending on the materials used in dental crowns, the duration it lasts will vary. However, on average, dental crowns last between five to fifteen years. However, the life span also depends on how well you follow hygiene practices and the amount of wear and tear the crown gets exposed to. 

Wrapping Up

Hopefully, the blog helped you understand all the dental crowns you need to know. If you’ve been looking for dental crowns for you or your loved one, feel free to contact Allwyn Dental. We have a team of expert doctors who will not only help you with the treatment but also patiently guide you through selecting the right one. Good luck!