Crowns can restore damaged teeth and improve the appearance of your smile. They can also help protect weak teeth from breaking or hold together parts of a cracked tooth. We can create and place state-of-the-art, natural-looking dental crowns in ONE office visit using the CEREC technology.
This article will examine the advancements in dental crown materials within pediatric dentistry and how they affect longevity, effectiveness, patient satisfaction, and aesthetic outcomes.
Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain crowns or dental crowns Auburn AL are custom-crafted to match the size, shape, and color of a patient’s teeth. They offer excellent aesthetic results and can withstand the pressures of chewing and talking.
They are also highly stain-resistant. This makes them a good option for the front teeth, or any tooth that is visible when a person smiles or talks.
Traditional crowns typically require two appointments: one for preparation, and another to place the restoration. But advancements in bonding technology allow us to fabricate and place porcelain crowns in the same visit under certain conditions.
Other types of dental crowns include feldspathic porcelain, which is stacked and fired multiple layers to create a tooth-like appearance, or zirconia. Both of these materials have tensile strength comparable to metal. They are also metal-free, making them an ideal option for patients with metal sensitivities or allergies. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns combine the strength of metal with porcelain’s appearance, but they may show a dark line at the gum line and can sometimes chip or break.
Single-Appointment Crowns
Dental crowns Auburn AL can be the culmination of a battle against tooth decay or it might be a preventative measure to shield an injured tooth from further harm. They are also used in connection with a dental implant to fill in a gap left by missing teeth and they provide the final finishing touch for a bridge or denture.
Traditionally, the crowning process involves two visits to your dentist. The first visit typically takes about an hour or two, during which time the dentist trims down the affected tooth and makes an impression of it with a putty mold. The impression is then sent off to a lab for the crown to be made, a process that can take weeks.
However, same-day crowns are now possible thanks to innovative CEREC technology. This method of making crowns eliminates the need for gooey impressions and laboratory work, which reduces costs and inconvenience for patients. In addition, all-ceramic CEREC crowns are designed and milled from a single block of porcelain while the patient waits – a process that is far quicker than traditional crowning methods.
Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are a minimally invasive cosmetic dental treatment that can correct a wide range of aesthetic concerns. They are very thin, durable, tooth-colored shells that we bond to the front surfaces of teeth. The porcelain material is incredibly stain-resistant and closely resembles the light-reflecting qualities of natural tooth enamel, giving your smile a beautiful, healthy appearance.
We custom-craft each veneer to fit your specific smile, ensuring a comfortable and natural appearance. You will likely experience some temporary sensitivity due to the small amount of enamel removed from each tooth, but this should subside shortly. If you clench or grind your teeth, we may recommend a night guard to protect the integrity of your veneers.
Regular brushing and flossing, as well as visits to our Auburn Opelika dentist for routine cleanings and exams, will help you keep your veneers in good condition. However, you should avoid smoking or other substances that can discolor the porcelain and cause chips, cracks, or staining.
Dental Implants
Crowns have several important functions, including protection of a weak tooth from further decay or cracking, restoring the function of a damaged tooth, and improving the aesthetic appearance of misshapen or discolored teeth. They can also be used to attach bridges, cover dental implants or anchor a root canal treatment.
During the traditional process of getting dental crowns Auburn AL, a dentist will first prepare the tooth by removing any existing decay & reshaping it to fit the crown. They’ll then take an impression of the tooth & create a custom-designed crown based on the resulting information, which will then be fabricated in a lab. A temporary crown will be placed until the permanent one is ready, which may take a few weeks.
Once your crown has been created, you’ll need to practice good oral hygiene & attend regular office visits to ensure the health & longevity of your new restoration. Make sure you brush & floss regularly & avoid hard foods to prevent damage to the tooth & the crown.
