The Benefits of Using All-Ceramic Crowns

The Benefits of Using All-Ceramic Crowns
By Dr. Gianino

When discolored teeth don’t respond to teeth whitening or if
teeth have become cracked, broken, decayed or simply worn down,
a dental crown can be used to bring them back to a healthy state
and a beautiful appearance. A dental crown which is also known
as a “cap” covers a tooth to help restore its strength, size,
shape and appearance.

There are a variety of options when it comes to dental crowns.
They can be made from precious metal, porcelain fused to metal
or all-porcelain (ceramic). In my office, we recommend
all-ceramic crowns for a variety of reasons. To begin with, they
provide the best color match, which means we can find the right
shade of porcelain to blend with the natural color of your
teeth, even if we are going a few shades brighter to whiten your
teeth in the process.

And, because there is no metal in an all-ceramic crown, you
will not have the unnatural grey color near your gum line that
generally happens when crowns are made from materials that
include metal. Without the ‘grey line’ issue, the crown will
blend in with your natural teeth. Also, all-ceramic crowns are
“tissue friendly” allowing the gum tissue to grow back up
against the tooth which does not always happen with crowns that
contain metal. Ceramic crowns are also bio-compatible which
means no allergic reactions, hot or cold sensitivity or impact
on the taste of the foods you eat. Along with these benefits,
ceramic crowns are also very durable and with proper dental
hygiene habits should last for a number of years. In fact,
clinical studies have shown that all-ceramic crowns are
exceptionally strong.

When your dentist determines that a crown is needed to repair
or restore a tooth, any decay that is present will be removed
and your tooth will be reshaped in preparation of receiving the
crown. Once that process is completed, an impression is made of
the tooth that the crown will be covering as well as the area of
the mouth in which the tooth is located and that impression is
sent to a dental laboratory where the ceramic crown will be
created. A temporary crown is then placed on your tooth to
protect the area until your permanent crown is ready.

Once the ceramic crown is returned to the dental office, your
temporary crown will be removed and the dentist will check the
tooth to ensure that it is cavity-free and ready to receive the
permanent crown. At that time, the fit and color of the crown
will be confirmed and if necessary a local anesthetic is used to
numb the tooth while the new crown is permanently cemented in
place. Once your ceramic crown is permanently placed in your
mouth, it will look, feel and function just like your natural
teeth.

Your all-ceramic crown does not need special care, but it does
require good daily oral hygiene habits that include brushing at
least twice a day and flossing at least once a day, especially
around the area where the tooth and gum meet to protect the base
of your crown from bacterial growth. Regular dental checkups at
least once every six months are also important to ensure that
the crown has not come loose and bacteria is building up beneath
it.

Ceramic crowns can not only be used for teeth that need to be
repaired or restored, they can also be used to replace any
current crowns in your mouth that contain metal.

About the Author: Dr. Gianino has based his dental philosophy
on patient respect and genuine relationships, taking the time to
learn about the smile of your dreams - the smile you deserve.
You can visit his website at http://DrGianino.com. He would love
to hear from you.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

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