While your dentist has the primary role of helping you maintain proper overall oral health over the years, from your teeth to your gums, that’s not all they do. Part of a dentist’s job is their ability to give people beautiful smiles. For some people, it starts with needing their teeth straightened, while others want to go in and have stains removed and make their teeth look white and bright. In some cases, due to fractures, cavities, etc., dental crowns are needed. If you think that a dental crown is going to stand out from your natural teeth (they used to), then think again. Modern techniques and progressive new materials allow the dentist to not only match the shade of your natural teeth, but also the opacity.
Composite resin materials are now used in some veneers and other restorative dentistry techniques, to fill cavities, to replace missing, damaged, or decayed teeth, or completely rebuild your smile. If your teeth are becoming weak or are slowly deteriorating, your dentist can help fix your weakened or damaged teeth by placing an artificial tooth around the damaged tooth, called a dental crown.
Before, dental crowns were made of metal and porcelain materials, making the work done on your smile noticeable and not very aesthetically pleasing. Today, instead of metal or porcelain, dental crowns are now made from composite resins such as ceramic or other materials with a more translucent hue. This gives more of a natural tooth look, allowing the dentist to match the crown as closely as possible to the color of your regular teeth, with a technique called shade matching. Materials of dental crowns are continually being improved and refined to better replicate tooth colors and shape, making them easier to apply and to hold their shape. More natural looking smiles have occurred as a result.
A dental crown looks like a tooth above the gum line. The crown is placed over the tooth being restored, such as a tooth that has had a root canal, very large fracture, or severe tooth decay. Crowns are used when fillings are inadequate. Since crowns cover the entire surface of the tooth above the gum lines, they protect the tooth from additional wear and tear caused by biting or chewing. Dental crowns are usually fused to metal. The material of the crown is color-matched to resemble the shade of teeth alongside the one being restored. This changes the overall appearance of the restored tooth. The degree of translucency changes from the base of the crown to the edges, allowing the crown to blend in more effectively with the rest of the teeth, creating an aesthetically pleasing smile.
With these new materials becoming more of the norm rather than the exception, they are widely accepted by dental insurance providers, so cheaper alternatives are often not necessary. Either way, when you need a dental crown, we will work with you to get the best possible match and fit, and give you a happy and healthy smile.
To learn more about how dental crowns can be incorporated to bring your whole smile together, call Dedicated Dental at (702) 566-5509 to request an appointment, or request one online.
