As we get older, our teeth begin to change and are prone to decay. There are many possible reasons for this change in your smile. These reasons can include bruxism (teeth grinding), general decay, cracked fillings, root canals, and many others. If your tooth is beyond repair with a filling material, we may recommend that the best viable option to save the tooth is a full crown. The reasons for this type of restoration in a badly damaged tooth are durability, cosmetic appearance, and overall support of the chewing function.
Types of Crowns
If we decide that you are in need of a full crown, there are a few different options for the repair of your tooth. These options include a full porcelain crown, porcelain fused to metal or gold crown, or a full gold crown. Dr. Michael encourages metal-free crown restorations which includes the all-porcelain crown.
Ivoclar Vivadent, a dental manufacturer, provides state-of-the-art porcelain materials which two of our three types of crowns are fabricated from. EMPRESS and EMAX are those porcelain materials. EMPRESS crowns are very strong and are the most aesthetically pleasing of the porcelain materials. EMAX crowns are the closest equivalent to enamel in terms of strength, and a majority of our crowns are fabricated from this state-of-the-art porcelain material. 3M Corporation manufactures another revolutionary porcelain material, called LAVA. LAVA crowns are porcelain fused to zirconia which is as strong as the older porcelain fused to metal crowns used on molar teeth. We often use LAVA material for our bridge restorations, due to its less brittle nature in comparison to other dental materials.
We will help you to make the determination as to which of these three options is the most appropriate for your situation. You can be comfortable in knowing that your new tooth will be virtually unnoticeable and will flawlessly complement the rest of your smile.
Procedure
When we have decided to go ahead with a full crown restoration, we will set aside 2-3 appointments for the entire process. Although the majority of crowns are completed in two visits, there is sometimes a need for a third visit to ensure a proper fit.
The first appointment takes about 1 hour. The procedure begins with the removal of all decay and the shaping of the tooth structure to allow it to fit the crown. Once we have removed the decay and shaped the tooth, we will take an impression of the tooth. This impression will be sent to our lab where your new restoration will be crafted. While this new tooth is created, we will provide you with a temporary restoration. Our temporary restorations will resemble your natural teeth so that you can continue with your daily life without worrying about a missing or incompatible tooth.
During your second visit to the office (about 45 minutes), we will proceed with the placement of your final restoration. This crown will be fitted comfortably into the mouth. We will make every effort to ensure that the new tooth feels exactly like one of your natural teeth. The final step in the process is to cement the crown into your mouth, leaving you with a beautifully restored smile.
