A dental crown covers around the patient’s tooth, and usually goes all the way around the tooth. They are a treatment that allow us to fulfill a practical role in terms of the bite function and also protection to a tooth that may have damage or erosion. Full dental crown veneered, is a process, in which the support substructure of the crown (e.g. metal) is veneered (or covered) with a white ceramic. As a crown is often visible, they have an important role in the dental aesthetics of our smile. In Dentistry, artificial crowns are often used, not only to improve the appearance of the teeth, but also to correct possible conditions, such as decay, disease, trauma and poor oral health.
Dental crowns, what are they and in which cases are they used?
A dental crown is a fixed prosthesis that is placed on a tooth, although they can also can be placed over implants. The crown covers the entire surface of the tooth and behaves and looks like a natural tooth, fulfilling all the aesthetic and bite functions that the patient needs. The crown can be made of different materials, which are always tailored to the patient on which it will be placed, and mimics the shape and color of the patient's teeth.
Strengthen a decayed tooth
As we have mentioned, crowns are often visible on a patients smile, however, we must not forget that they also have important practical functions for the patient and it is essential to keep them healthy, not only for aesthetics but for general health and function. It is advisable to reinforce a tooth whose visible part is clearly deteriorated. A Full dental crown veneered, tooth wear can be caused by various reasons, causing greater tooth sensitivity and, in the most severe cases, even affects the tooth structure.
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A tooth must be reinforced if it has suffered substantial trauma, if it has lost a lot of it’s surface due to large fillings or if it has undergone endodontics (root canal treatment). In any of the cases raised, and to ensure the correct strength of the tooth, a dental practitioner will professionally drill down the tooth and contour it so that a crown can be placed. With a Full dental crown veneered, the procedure consists of reducing the tooth surface by up to 2 millimeters , both in height and thickness, until a conical shape is obtained, in order to later cement the dental crown on it.
Support a bridge
When a patient has a dental bridge, it is important that the adjacent teeth (abutments/pillars) provide the necessary support. A bridge is supported with a crown on either abutment tooth (or several next to each other for extra strength). The missing teeth are the supported by these crowned teeth. In the event that one of these pillars are missing, the dentist may recommend the placement of an implant. Full dental crown veneered, In this way, the abutments will be able to withstand the load of the bite, and keep the entire dental prosthesis anchored . Dental caps can be made of three types of materials: porcelain, metal-porcelain or zirconia.
Crown over implants
A missing tooth can lead to negative outcomes for a patients oral health and is not just an aesthetic problem. When a patient has a missing tooth, one option to replace the missing tooth is with a dental implant. Replacing a natural tooth with a dental implant involves three parts; the titanium screw, an abutment, and then the dental crown which is placed over the top of the abutment. Through this method, the drilling of adjacent teeth can be avoided, as is required with bridges.
Aesthetic reasons
It is possible that the patient wants to modify some purely aesthetic aspect of their teeth. Normally this will be the case when the patient needs work done on the front or anterior teeth, since they are the most visible when we smile. If the shape, color or position of the teeth is not what you like best, a dental cap in the form of a dental crown, can change the look of a patient’s smile in a very evident way. In contrast to a Full dental crown veneered, depending on the case, the dentist may also recommend the use of dental veneers , since they also serve to change the appearance of the teeth and improve some functional aspects, without the need to fully cover the tooth.
Classes of dental caps and characteristics
As we have indicated, crowns not only have an aesthetic role, but also a functional one. For this reason, they can be used on any tooth, being most commonly use with molars and premolars. These posterior teeth are the ones with the clearest impact in terms of the patients bite, so they must be resistant and effectively support mandibular loads .
In addition, being located in the back of the mouth, they tend to accumulate a greater number of cavities, since generally they are less accessible teeth during brushing. Although the cover or cap that are basically same in terms of function and shape, the aesthetic and functional needs of each patient vary and therefore the dentist will recommend one material over another.
Zirconia and porcelain: the most aesthetic crowns
Zirconia and porcelain crowns are often used for anterior teeth as they offer more aesthetic solutions. These materials make it possible to adapt to the tone and shade of the adjacent teeth, so the result is a more harmonious and natural feel, with a good dentist being able to correctly shade a crown such as most people won’t be able to tell which tooth has the crown and which is the natural tooth.
Metal-porcelain crowns
On the other hand, caps made of metal can be veneered with porcelain. They can be used in cases where a patient may grind their teeth, or in general, the crown needs to be quite resistant. In placing a Full dental crown veneered, a cap made of metal is placed on the remaining tooth. Alternatively, other metals can be used, which will later be coated with porcelain to give the appearance of a real tooth. Its use is not recommended on the visible teeth in the smile, since being made of metal, it is possible that the aesthetic finish is not the desired one.
What type of crown is most recommended?
As we have explained, there are three options for the patient to choose between one material or another. Most commonly however, the patient will choose between zirconia or porcelain crowns.
In the common case of where a cap needs to be placed on a tooth, a metal-porcelain cover will be placed in almost all cases. Although both porcelain and zirconia crowns offer an optimal aesthetic result, the latter offer greater advantages due to their composition. Full dental crown veneered, Even so, the professional will always advise the patient on the option that best suits their circumstances. To make the dental crown last as long as possible, take care of it as if it were a natural tooth. Brushing and flossing, often using a pikster can usually achieve this goal
How long does a dental crown last?
Crowns can be kept in good condition for more than 10 years , although their average duration under optimal conditions is set between 15 and 20 years. In this regard, prophylaxis (regular check ups and cleaning) plays a fundamental role, since it must not be forgotten that the cover is placed on the natural tooth.
If the tooth on which it rests has cavities, inflammation or any disease, the crown may lose its integrity and end up falling out. The crown works like a normal tooth and therefore requires the same care. In this way, the prosthesis can break due to a strong trauma or if we eat very hard food. Even though, With a Full dental crown veneered, made from zirconia is a very strong material, it is always advisable to be careful.
It is important to periodically go to a dental clinic for your 6 monthly check-ups and also for the hygienists or dentists to do a deep oral cleaning that prevents future problems.