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Crowns |
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When teeth have had a large filling placed, or an old filling is breaking down or when the tooth has had a Root Canal Treatment, a crown (sometimes called a "cap") is the ideal way for returning the tooth to proper function. Another reason for placing a crown on a tooth is when the tooth has fracture lines on it. There is wide choice of materials which can be used for the fabrication of a crown. Gold crowns have been around for a long time although they are declining in popularity due to obvious esthetic reason. Their use is limited to teeth in the back of the mouth (unless you are a boxer who enjoys bearing your "gold tooth" to your opponent). A more esthetically oriented crown is fabricated with Porcelain which is fused to a metal substructure. The metal portion is in immediate contact with the tooth (forming a very thin shell for the tooth) while Porcelain is baked onto the metal and masking its presence. This crown is better suited to the teeth a little closer to the front of the mouth that may be too visible if a gold crown is placed on them, or when someone has a big smile. The most esthetic crowns are those that are made strictly out of a resin reinforced material or combination of porcelain and ceramic substrate. With today's technological advances in dentistry, it is possible to have a metal-free crown and not be concerned about the crown fracturing, especially in the back parts of the mouth.
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