If you are looking for a powerhouse solution for your dental woes, dental crowns could be the way to go. Crowns can do it all, from aesthetics to function, and they come with a long list of benefits. Paired with the expertise of Samuel F. Jirik, DDS in Little Rock, AK, the benefits of cosmetic crowns could radically improve your life.
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns, or cosmetic crowns, are small caps placed over a natural tooth to correct damage, weakness, misalignment, or discoloration. Crowns help the tooth return to shape, size, and function. These prosthetic dental applications mimic your natural teeth.
One or more damaged teeth can dramatically impact your quality of life. No matter how we look at it, teeth are important. You need them to eat, and you use them to make an impression through your smile. Living with a damaged tooth can influence the way you feel about yourself and the impact you make on others. If you’re living with a smile that doesn’t meet your standards, a crown could improve your health and happiness.
A Long History
These small yet mighty caps have been used for over 4,000 years to improve the appearance and functioning of teeth. Anthropological evidence also suggests that many cultures have used gold crowns as a status symbol since the beginning of recorded time.
Over the dozens of centuries that followed, dental technology has undoubtedly improved. In 1889, Dr. Charles Land patented the first all-porcelain jacket crown, the direct predecessor of the dental crowns we still use today. The 1950s introduced a more robust version of the classic porcelain crown by fusing it to metal.
Types of Cosmetic Crowns
We now have the most advanced materials and techniques for correcting problematic teeth with cosmetic crowns. You have a choice among premium materials. The condition of your tooth, jaw, and gum structures, plus the results you want to achieve, dictate the crown material that’s best suited for you. Schedule a consultation to find out which cosmetic crown is the right option for you.
Ceramic or Porcelain
Crowns made with ceramic or porcelain are the most popular because they look like a natural tooth. If you want a crown that isn’t noticeable to onlookers, these ceramic and porcelain crowns mimic the natural color and texture of your teeth for covert correction of your teeth. These crowns last between five and fifteen years.
Porcelain Fused to Metal
Some patients prefer the support of porcelain fused to metal crowns, especially if they are using the crown for a bridge. Like traditional metal crowns, this type blends with the natural color and texture of your tooth while adding more strength than conventional porcelain alone.
Gold
Gold crowns are the originals from ages ago, but their popularity has waned in recent times. Gold is an excellent crown material because it lasts a long time and doesn’t damage any surrounding teeth. Allergic reactions to gold are relatively uncommon, which makes this a desirable metal crown option for patients. Some patients simply prefer the look of gold crowns.
Gold or Platinum Metal Alloys and Nickel-Chromium or Nickel-Cobalt
Some other metals and metal alloys are fantastic long-term options for crowns. Using a high-quality metal helps prevent the crown from chipping and reduces the frequency with which you must replace the crown.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel crowns are a reliable temporary solution. We use stainless steel crowns to secure your tooth while another crown is made and for children who need a crown on a baby tooth.
Nine Incredible Benefits of Dental Crowns
To help you decide if a cosmetic crown is the right choice for you, we’ve compiled a list of their top nine benefits below.
1. Fixes Damaged or Broken Teeth
Crowns restore the structure of the tooth. Damaged, cracked, or broken teeth can cause discomfort. Sometimes the pain is physical, and you may have trouble chewing as you once did. Other times, those negative feelings exist in the self-esteem department.
Getting a crown can restore your tooth to its original shape or size to eliminate both physical and psychological distress from having a damaged tooth.
2. Improves Appearance
Crowns can match the color and texture of your other teeth. Discolored or malformed teeth can alter the look of your entire smile. Many people find that a porcelain or ceramic crown is an excellent solution for upgrading their grin.
3. Hides Results of Teeth Grinding
You reverse the evidence of teeth grinding with cosmetic crowns. If you are a teeth grinder, you have probably noticed that the appearance of your teeth has changed over the years. Besides getting fitted for a night-guard, you can restore your teeth with cosmetic crowns.
Using crowns on your teeth after a lifetime of grinding protects the tooth from further decay, breakage, and erosion.
4. Gives Extra Protection After a Big Filling
A crown offers more support if a tooth has a lot of decay. Using a filling by itself to fix a tooth with excessive decay may not be enough. Although small fillings are useful, larger fillings can feel awkward in the mouth. A crown is better for these teeth because it gives strength and reduces the risk of future breakage.
5. Strengthens Tooth After Root Canal Surgery
Cosmetic crowns provide reinforcement to teeth after a root canal. Getting a root canal to eliminate bacteria from the root of your tooth is a process to save your natural tooth from rotting. Root canals save millions of teeth every year and can help keep your smile au naturale.
Patients committed to keeping their teeth should get a crown after receiving a root canal because it gives the tooth the extra strength it needs. Teeth that do not get capped after a root canal are especially prone to splitting or breaking.
6. Useful With a Dental Bridge
Crowns add stability to a dental bridge while protecting the surrounding teeth. A missing tooth isn’t just an innocuous inconvenience: it can cause damage to the rest of your mouth with time. If you have one or more missing teeth, your dentist will use a bridge to restore the function and look of the area.
Phase two of the dental bridge process is placing the crown or crowns. A cosmetic crown adds structure to a bridge and cushions abutment teeth to prevent further damage.
7. Looks As Good as It Performs
Crowns look and feel good. Everyone knows that cavities and broken or otherwise damaged teeth don’t feel great. However, few consider how much better they’ll feel after getting a crown. Some people mistakenly think there are only cosmetic reasons to get a crown, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Crowns keep your mouth in good working order. They protect vulnerable teeth from further breakage, damage, and decay. Ultimately, you get to save your natural tooth, and not much could be better than that.
8. Is a Simple Process to Have Done
Getting a crown is easy. Receiving a crown in the past differed completely from today’s process. Nowadays, a combination of modern technology and dental expertise allows you to get your crown in our office. Dr. Jirik’s experience with cosmetic crowns ensures that you have the best treatment and care in the Little Rock area.
9. Offers Long-Lasting Support
Your new crown offers years of ongoing dental support. Although no crown can last forever, they provide years of protection. You can expect your crown to last at least five years, and many crowns last 15 years or longer. Gold crowns last longest, and they can protect your teeth for nearly a lifetime.
How Is a Cosmetic Crown Placed?
We place cosmetic crowns in two stages: preparation and placement. The two stages do not happen on the same day, and you must wait to receive your permanent crown until stage two of the process. Therefore, there is a brief waiting period between each stage. Both stages are necessary for getting a new crown.
Stage One: Preparation
During the preparation stage, Dr. Jirik cleans your tooth thoroughly to remove any decay. He also removes the outer portion to support the crown. If your tooth needs more structure, he will build the core of your tooth to accommodate the crown.
After preparing your tooth, Dr. Jirik creates an impression of the tooth to create a model for the permanent crown. You have the option of receiving a temporary crown to conceal the affected tooth between appointments.
Waiting Period
During the waiting period, Dr. Jirik creates your custom-made crown from the model of your tooth. He makes your crown specifically for your tooth so it will always fit perfectly.
Stage Two: Placement
You’ll come in for another appointment when your crown is ready for fitting. Dr. Jirik first etches or scores the surface of the affected tooth to create points of friction. These rough areas create more bonding power for the dental cement used to affix the crown, thus helping it fit more securely.
Finally, Dr. Jirik places the crown over your tooth and makes sure it is in the right position. He will make adjustments as necessary to ensure your new crown fits in your mouth and does not obstruct chewing or other normal functioning.
How Do I Care for Dental Crowns?
Taking care of your cosmetic crown is a crucial step in how long it will last. You must make different considerations for crowns depending on the type you have.
Taking Care of a Temporary Crown
Temporary crowns are soft and prone to damage. If you have a temporary crown, please avoid chewing on the crown side of the mouth. It’s wise to avoid hard, sticky, or chewy food when you have a temporary crown in your mouth because it can erode or break the crown. When flossing, try to slide the floss between the teeth instead of pulling upward as this can pop the temporary crown off.
Taking Care of a Permanent Crown
Permanent crowns are much easier to care for because you can treat it like you would the rest of your teeth. Keep in mind that a tooth with a crown can still decay. Brush twice per day, floss once a day, and use mouthwash daily. This suffices for removing plaque and harmful bacteria.
Am I a Candidate for a Cosmetic Crown?
Crowns are the ideal dental solution for a variety of needs, but they aren’t for everyone. The only way to know if you are a candidate for a crown is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jirik. He will give you a full examination and discuss your treatment options.
Schedule a Consultation With Samuel F. Jirik, DDS
Dental crowns offer an exceptional array of benefits for your cosmetic and oral hygiene needs. If you are ready to see how a crown could change your life, contact us now. Contact Samuel F. Jirik, DDS, the Little Rock, AR Cosmetic Dentist today to schedule your consultation for cosmetic crowns.
