Denture crowns Pittsburgh PA are caps that a dentist places over teeth to restore their shape, size, strength and appearance. They are used to protect teeth that cannot be restored with fillings and to repair broken or severely worn down teeth. They are also placed on dental implants to restore a missing tooth or as an alternative to partial dentures.
What Are Dental Crowns Made of?
Crowns can be made from a variety of materials and can be colored to match the tooth it is replacing. Your dentist will help you choose the best material for your needs and budget.
Your dentist will select a material that is strong enough to handle biting and chewing forces, but is also aesthetically pleasing. They can also choose a material that reflects light and matches the color of your surrounding teeth.
Porcelain crowns are commonly used in front teeth, since they resemble natural teeth and have a high resistance to chipping and breakage. Your dentist may use a combination of porcelain and other materials to create a crown that looks as natural as possible while being stronger than a traditional crown.
They can also be matched to the shade of the teeth around them, which helps to make the crown more natural looking. The dentist will take impressions or scans of the tooth before preparing it for a crown. These impressions or scans will be sent to a dental laboratory for fabrication.
The lab will then construct the crown based on the impressions, ensuring that it fits comfortably and is shaped and sized correctly for your tooth. Once your crown is ready, it will be bonded to your tooth.
Before your crown is made, your dentist will remove any decay and any old fillings from the affected tooth. If there is significant decay, a root canal may be necessary first to treat the diseased area.
Your tooth will be numb from the anesthesia so that it can be properly shaped for the crowns Pittsburgh PA. The dentist may also use a small amount of filling material to build up the affected tooth, preventing the crown from falling off.
Once your tooth is properly shaped, the dentist will place a temporary crown over it to cover and protect it while you wait for the custom-made crown to arrive from the lab. Then, a permanent crown is cemented over your tooth, and the temporary one is removed.
What Are Common Problems with Dental Crowns?
When you have a crown, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene and to avoid certain types of foods that can damage the tooth. You should also be careful not to grind your teeth or clench them at night. These habits can cause the dental crown to chip or break, and you could end up losing your new crown in the process!
You will probably need to return to the dentist for regular checkups and cleanings. This will prevent tooth decay and other health problems from developing in the future.
