A dental crown is a specialized cap that is placed over a tooth. It is crafted to resemble a real tooth, and when it is in place, it covers the original tooth completely. Crowns are often used to strengthen weak or damaged teeth. If a tooth has a very large filling, a dental crown can give it the extra support it needs. Crowns can also be used to hide discolored teeth.
Function
Dental crowns are an alternative to dental fillings. They tend to be more effective for a number of reasons. One is that fillings are made on the spot; this means that the dentist has very less over the appearance of your tooth when the work is finished. Dental crowns are made at a specialty lab, with the help of accurate measurements of the tooth. This means that they fit the tooth perfectly and are much stronger, too.
Benefits
Strength is the biggest benefit of dental crowns. Fillings should generally not be greater than a third of the width of a given tooth. When the filling's size grows larger, the strength of the tooth is reduced. These teeth tend to run a greater risk of cracking and breaking. Using dental crowns in these cases not only means stronger teeth--the crowns themselves tend to be more durable than fillings.
Types
Dental crowns come in three different kinds. They are made out of either metal, porcelain, or a combination of metal and porcelain. Metal crowns, especially gold ones, have a number of advantages. They are very strong, rarely break, and they have a rate of wear that is similar to ordinary tooth enamel. Porcelain crowns are a stronger aesthetic choice but chip and break easily; in fact, they are not recommended for use on the molars. Crowns made of metal and porcelain have the good looks of porcelain and the strength of metal. However, the porcelain portion of such a crown can chip and wear down quickly.
Considerations
The biggest disadvantage with dental crowns is that you must be careful about how you bite and chew. Especially in the case of porcelain crowns, a hard bite can crack or break the crown. Apart from that, the underlying tooth does have to undergo certain invasive procedures to prepare it for a dental crown. Another factor to consider is cost--compared to getting an ordinary filling, crown work can be quite expensive.
Prevention/Solution
Dental crowns usually heighten the tooth's sensitivity to hot and cold substances. While this is normal, you should talk to your dentist if your tooth seems excessively sensitive. This could indicate an infection, which can be treated with antibiotics. The gums around the tooth may be sore for the first few days after placement. It's a good idea to rinse the mouth with warm salt water to help the damaged gum tissue heal quicker.
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