Dr. Bruce Martinson DDS Bruce Martinson DDS General, Cosmetic, Restorative, Preventative, Family Dentist in Wayzata, MN 55391

Dental Crowns: Purpose, Procedure, and Types

Cracked, decayed, or chipped teeth are significant issues that plague countless smiles. Aesthetics aside, dental flaws can lead to other severe oral health issues that can cause tooth loss and bone loss, as is the case with gum disease.

You need to care for your teeth every day to ensure that your pearly whites stay healthy and strong. But if it so happens that your teeth have cracks, decay, or chips, there are still options that can help keep your teeth healthy. One option that you can go for is dental crowns in Wayzata, MN.

For some time now, dental crowns near you have been the go-to option for those who wish to get their smiles back to their former glory.

Why Is a Dental Crown Needed?

To understand why a crown is needed, you will need to understand the basics of dental crowns. Crowns are tooth-shaped caps that our dentist Wayzata cements over damaged or decayed teeth. In other words, dental crowns near you will restore a damaged tooth to its usual size, function, and shape. Once the tooth crown is in place, your smile will be as good as new.

So, you may need a crown if you wish to:

  • Hold a tooth bridge in place.
  • Cover a tooth implant.
  • Cover and support teeth that have chunky fillings.
  • Protect a weak tooth from breaking.
  • Hold part of the cracked tooth.
  • Make a cosmetic modification.
  • Restore a broken or severely worn down tooth

On the other hand, kids can also need to use tooth crowns if they need to save a tooth that has been destroyed because of decay, and the tooth cannot support a tooth filling.

Also, kids may benefit from crowns if they are at a high risk of developing tooth decay because they cannot keep up with the daily oral hygiene.

Lastly, dental crowns in Wayzata, MN, can be used to reduce the frequency of using general anesthesia for kids who cannot fully cooperate with the requirements of proper oral care due to age, behavior, or medical history.

Types of Dental Crowns

The beauty of living in our time is that dental technology has made it possible to have a plethora of options for teeth restorations. You have the option of choosing your dental crown based on your preference, the money you are willing to spend, the type of material, and the location of the tooth to be restored.

Here are the options you have based on the materials:

All-Metal

All-metal crowns are usually fabricated from different metals such as nickel, gold, chromium, palladium, or base-metal alloys such as nickel-chromium and cobalt-chromium alloys. All-metal crowns are sturdy, so they last much longer than most crowns. Since they are sturdy, they are a good option for back tooth restorations.

The major downside for most people is that they are not tooth-colored, which makes them aesthetically unappealing.

All-Porcelain

If you need top-notch aesthetics, porcelain crowns will sort you out! They are life-like. Plus, they are a perfect choice if you have metal allergies or you wish to repair your front teeth.

All-Resin

These crowns are fabricated from plastic or resin. Therefore, you can expect them to be the most pocket-friendly option. But the drawback of all-resin crowns is that they wear down over time and are more prone to fractures than other crowns.

Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal

All-porcelain crowns have unmatched aesthetics, but they are not as sturdy as the all-metal crowns. On the other hand, all-metal crowns are sturdy, but they lack aesthetic appeal. So, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are designed to blend the strengths of these materials.

Porcelain is on the outer surface, while metal lines the inner parts of the crown, making these crowns aesthetically pleasing and strong.

How Are Crowns Fixed?

Getting a tooth crown involves prepping the tooth and then crown fabrication. Here’s an overview of the procedure:

  • Examining and Preparing the Tooth

Our dentist near you will examine your teeth to determine whether crowns will be the best way to go. This means that you can expect x-rays to check the roots and surrounding bone. If you are eligible for tooth restoration, our dentist will numb the area close to the affected tooth.

Then, our dentist will reshape the tooth to create room for the new crown that you will receive.

Scans or impressions are taken to ensure that you get a crown designed for your teeth. The impressions or scans will be sent to the lab, where your crown will be fabricated.

Our dentist will cover the tooth using a temporary crown to protect the tooth while you wait for your permanent crown.

  • Receiving Your Permanent Crown

After several days or weeks, the permanent crown will be ready. Our dentist in Minnetrista will remove the temporary crown and place the permanent crown.

Dental crowns can help restore your smile. At Bruce Martinson Family Cosmetic Dentistry, you can get all the dental help you need. Contact us today.