What are dental crowns?
A dental crown is a tooth shaped, and often tooth colored, restoration used to entirely cover or “cap” a damaged tooth. Typically a crown is made of porcelain or metal, like a gold alloy. A crown is a restoration that may be used for a number of dental conditions. Most commonly, a crown is used to restore a tooth that has been cracked, broken, had a root canal, replaced with an implant or decayed to a point that a dental filling will not provide a successful restoration. Each crown is custom made to fit over your entire tooth, going right down to the gum line. Your tooth structure will be reduced in size, which will allow the crown to fit properly over your tooth. An impression will be taken and a crown will be custom created in a dental lab to fit exactly over your prepped tooth. A dental crown restores a tooth to its normal size, shape, and function.
FAQs About Dental Crowns in Panama – Your Questions Answered!
When are dental crowns necessary?
One of the most common uses for a dental crown is to restore a tooth that is significantly damaged or decayed. If a filling is too large, it is a better long term solution to put a crown on the damaged tooth as a restoration. A tooth with a filling that is too large is likely to break at some point, during normal use. A crown will prevent this from happening and is used to protect the tooth structure from further damage. A crown can be used for many aesthetic and restorative purposes, including:
To cover and protect a tooth that has been cracked or broken.
To cover and support a large filling.
To anchor a dental bridge.
To protect a tooth following root canal treatment.
As part of a dental implant after a tooth is lost or extracted.
To improve the look of a misshapen or small tooth.
To enhance the beauty of your smile.
Learn more about our oral rehabilitation treatments
What type of material is used for making dental crowns?
There are several types of ceramic crowns. The most common division is into metal-ceramic and non-metal aesthetic crowns. The difference between these two types of crowns is that the metal-ceramic crown has a metal base of 0.3 to 0.5 mm thickness on which the ceramic is subsequently baked, while in the case of non-metal, the zirconia crown can be completely made of zirconia in a precise CAD/CAM machine, or the core can be made of zirconia and additional ceramic is baked on it. Such a crown is called a zirconia crown or colloquially zircon on the tooth.
What if I wait or do nothing?
A few different scenarios can occur if you choose to not proceed with treatment:
a. Nothing may happen, the tooth could remain as is for many years
b. The tooth could chip or crack and may require a repair.
c. In more rare cases, it may break in a way that would require a root canal
d. The tooth may fracture in a way that renders it not repairable and it would have to be extracted.
Is a root canal needed?
Most teeth that have root canals should have crowns, but not all teeth that need crowns require root canals. The need for a root canal depends on whether the tooth is infected or inflamed and painful, or if a very significant portion of the tooth is missing.
What Is the Process of Getting a Crown?
Sometimes, before a crown can be placed, other dental work must be done to the underlying tooth. This can include procedures like root canals, bone grafting, or gum surgery.
Once that is taken care of, your crown procedure can be scheduled. The process starts with reshaping your tooth (if applicable) so that a crown can be fitted over it. This may include filing down the side.
If a large portion of your tooth is missing, your dentist may also use filling material to make up for it so the tooth can support a crown.
Next, you will be fitted for the crown. Your dentist will make an impression of your tooth as well as the teeth below it, to ensure your crown won’t mess up your bite.
Your mold will then be sent to a lab where your crown will be professionally made and returned to your dentist’s office within a couple of weeks. In the meantime, your dentist will give you a temporary crown.
Once your crown is ready, your dentist will once again numb your mouth before the official crown is placed.
If you have more FAQs About Dental Crowns in Panama, contact our clinic.
