A dental crown, often called a cap is shaped like a tooth and it is fitted over a tooth which has been prepared by a dentist. Dental crowns in Middleburg are often cosmetic but they can also be functional. To properly prepare for the crown and to fit it takes more than one visit to the dentist but once it has been done it can easily last ten or more years.
Dental crowns in Middleburg have three functions; they can strengthen a tooth, restore the tooth’s original shape and improve the appearance of the patient. A tooth which has broken or has been cracked or a tooth which is grossly discolored can all be improved with a crown. Dental crowns can be made of porcelain, metal or in most cases, a combination of the two.
The porcelain which is used to produce the crown can be perfectly color matched to the patients existing teeth, this makes them ideal for cosmetic applications, especially on the teeth which are visible when smiling. Porcelain crowns are not as strong as metal so they are rarely used for molars.
The metal that is used in crowns is either gold or an alloy, these crowns are the strongest and the most long lasting but their color can be considered unsightly when the tooth or teeth are visible. Metal crowns will never break or chip and as they do not tend to wear down the teeth that oppose them they are ideal for those teeth which are used for chewing.
A common combination of materials is a base metal with a porcelain overlay. This style can be used for any teeth but they are not as hard wearing as all metal but certainly more so than all porcelain. The only drawback to combination metal and porcelain crowns is that the metal may eventually become evident at the gum line if the gums recede.
Dental crowns in Middleburg can be used as described but they are also used as an anchor tooth for a fixed bridge. When there is a gap between teeth a dental appliance called a bridge is fixed to the teeth adjacent to the gap. This is an ideal solution as the crowns add considerable strength to the teeth that are destined to support the bridge.
Regardless of the reason for the crown the tooth must be prepared, it is filed down which allows the room that is necessary for the cap to fit over the tooth. Once the tooth has been prepared, an impression is taken and the crown is produced at a dental lab; during the procedure the dentist will fit a temporary crown.
Dental crowns in Middleburg can be used for cosmetic purposes or to repair a tooth which has suffered trauma. You are welcome to make an appointment with Myers Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics.
