Protecting the Teeth With Dental Crowns – What Types Are Available?

Cosmetic dentistry continues to grow in popularity and even in the number of procedures that it has to offer. There are so many things that you can do nowadays to have those missing teeth or the discolored ones fixed. Basically, if you want to have a smile like that of a toothpaste model, you need not stress yourself too much. Simply pay a visit to a dentist and you will be good to go; even if you have a chipped or a worn out tooth. There are tools like dental crowns that are available to help fix those damaged teeth pretty fast.

At the most basic level, a dental crown is simply a cap that is placed over the tooth itself. It has the shape and size of the normal teeth and thus the goal is essential to restore lost size, shape and strength of the teeth. It also helps greatly when it comes to improving the appearance of the teeth. Once the crown has been set in place, it encases the entire visible portion of the tooth- the crown itself. If the process is done properly by an expert even the tooth function is completely restored.

Options available for you

There are a number of dental crowns in the market that are available for your selection. The one that you have installed is totally dependent on your personal interests and your dentist’s counsel. The most common types of crowns which you have probably come across already include:

1. Stainless steel

They are the so-called silver teeth. They are not actually silver but they have that silver-gray color. They are prefabricated for use on the permanent teeth mainly as a temporary measure. The tooth is protected by the crown as the permanent crown is being made from another material. This crown covers the entire tooth, preventing it from further decay or damage. Mostly, stainless steel crowns are used on children’s teeth as they do not need several dental visits to set in place.

2. Metal crowns

A number of metals can be used in crowns and they include the likes of gold alloy and other alloys such as palladium. The metal options are many. When compared with other types of crowns, this is a preferred option because less of the tooth will have to be removed in order to set in place that tooth. Metal crowns are able to withstand chewing and biting forces well and they are bound to last the longest. The only problem is their metallic color.

3. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns

These solve the color issue of the metal crowns. They can be designed to match the color of the adjacent teeth. This makes them a fantastic solution for the visible teeth. They look completely like normal teeth but at times the metal below the crown’s porcelain portion pops up as a dark line particularly at the gum line.

These are the three most popular dental crown options. There are others such as all resin crowns, which are significantly cheaper than these options. Speak to your dentist to find out which option will work perfectly for you.