A dental crown is a permanent, long-lasting solution for tooth restoration for patients with damaged, flawed, or discolored teeth.
The procedure involves the preparation, fabrication, and placing of a cap-like prosthesis over an existing tooth to address a variety of dental and aesthetic concerns. Quite simply put, dental crowns are covers for your teeth. Unlike dental veneers, which are a similar cosmetic procedure, crowns completely encapsulate an existing tooth.
Your dentist or prosthodontist may recommend a crown for many reasons. Typically, dental crowns are suggested for patients with a weak or damaged tooth that needs to be held together to prevent fracturing, is severely discolored, or is otherwise aesthetically unacceptable. They are also necessary for capping a dental implant. Less commonly, dental crowns may also be required to support a dental bridge and help hold it in place. They are a cost-effective choice for repairing, reinforcing, and visually enhancing prominent teeth that must also withstand enormous bite pressures such as your molars and front teeth. Depending on the materials selected, one of the primary benefits of a dental crown procedure compared to more targeted interventions, such as porcelain veneers, is the longevity of the treatment. A well-crafted and carefully placed dental crown made from quality material and designed by a prosthodontist should last decades.
Dental crowns can be manufactured from a variety of dental-grade and biocompatible materials. The most popular are porcelain, metal, and acrylic or a combination such as porcelain fused to metal. Generally speaking, no one material or combination of materials is better than the others. Each has its strengths and drawbacks.
Porcelain crowns look the most like natural teeth. Porcelain itself is a biocompatible, inert material that is nonporous and thus incredibly resistant to both staining and bacteria. Unfortunately, porcelain is also heavy and brittle and can chip or fracture when subjected to extreme forces.
Metal is another popular material employed in the making of dental crowns. Dental alloys utilizing precious metals, such as gold and silver, are inert, malleable, and strong enough for dental applications. While they won’t look natural, they can suit a patients personal aesthetic tastes and desires. Some patients opt for metal alloy crowns since the price difference between a crown composed of precious gold and one formed of another material are often negligible.
Porcelain fused to metal is a traditional material combination in dental crown construction. The synthesis of the two materials offers the resilience and beauty of porcelain with the malleability of metal. While recommended by most dental professionals, patients should make sure to choose a dentist with the requisite skill and experience to ensure the best aesthetic results. Poorly fitted or low-quality crowns will look out of place. Porcelain fused to metal crowns may also show a dark ring around the base where the metal is showing when improperly placed.
Acrylic crowns are the most economical solution available. While acrylic teeth will not look as natural as porcelain or last as long as metal and porcelain fused to metal alternatives, they are considerably less expensive and can be an acceptable solution for teeth that aren’t as visible and won’t be subjected to major bite forces. It is possible for the right prosthodontist with the right equipment, skills, talent, and experience to craft an incredibly life-like and beautiful crown from acrylic alone. Choosing the right prosthodontist for your dental crown procedure is of the utmost importance.
During your consultation at ArtLab Dentistry, Dr. Reshad will meet with you to assess your needs as well as your hopes and expectations. He will recommend the right procedures and treatments to meet those goals and even project what the results may look like utilizing our in-house visualization tools.
Once a treatment plan and timeline have been established, it’s time for tooth preparation. Preparatory procedures can often be scheduled to coincide with your first visit or, for your convenience, they can be rescheduled to another occasion. During the preparatory portion of your appointment, we will perform the required prerequisite work on your teeth and mouth. Patients who need crowns will have an impression of their teeth taken. The affected teeth are then shaped and ground down to accommodate a crown. Depending on each patient and the condition of the tooth undergoing preparation work, as much as 30 percent or more of the original tooth’s structure may be removed. Once the tooth has been adequately and appropriately shaped, ArtLab will provide you with an aesthetically pleasing temporary crown to minimize any visual and functional disruptions. You are then free to go home while your custom crown is created.
During the fabrication phase, a dental crown fitting your exact specifications and matched to the shade of your existing teeth is formed. At ArtLab Dentistry, we use a combination of CAD CAM technology and traditional lab artistry to build a beautiful and durable crown that looks like a real tooth.
Your prepared tooth is scanned, and then the final restoration is designed using state-of-the-art CAD CAM technology.
Finally, we go through a series of processes to customize the tooth and layer it with ceramic to copy the adjacent teeth as closely as possible. Utilizing a combination of the CAD CAM technology and the artistic skills of Dr. Mamaly Reshad, we can create a healthy, durable and attractive solution.
Once the crown is complete, it’s time to place it. During the next visit, our experienced prosthodontist and dedicated staff will meticulously and precisely cement the crown in place. Any additional shaping requirements will be performed during this time to ensure the perfect fit and a comfortable bite.
The recovery time for a dental crown procedure is short. Patients should have full use of their teeth within only a few hours. There will still be some numbness from the anesthetic. It is also possible for the affected teeth to be sensitive to hot or cold for some time following the procedure. Generally speaking though, sensitivities should subside within a week.
The production and placement of dental crowns is a common service provided by many dental clinics and dentists. The procedure may be commonplace; however, perfect results are anything but. That’s why we believe ArtLab Dentistry is a step above the rest when it comes to the execution of a flawless dental crown procedure. Skill, experience, talent, training, artistry, and a steady hand are all vital components of a successful dental procedure.
At ArtLab Dentistry, you will be under the care of one of the world’s foremost Prosthodontists in Dr. Mamaly Reshad. Dr. Reshad is often the preferred choice for many surgeons, periodontists, and general dentists who refer to him the most difficult, complicated, and challenging dental cases. Be confident in your dental clinic and prosthodontist. Choose ArtLab Dentistry, the leader in dental cosmetics and care in Woodland Hills and the Los Angeles area.
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