How to Choose the Best Dental Crowns in Houston

Dental crowns can serve a variety of purposes both cosmetic and practical. Cosmetically, they can restore the look of natural teeth after one or more have become damaged. Practically, they can restore function of damaged teeth.

A dental crown generally takes two visits to the dentist to install. The first visit prepares the tooth while the second visit actually installs it.

Practical and Cosmetic Restoration with Dental Crowns in Houston

Most times, someone will get a dental crown to restore their bite, perhaps because it has become painful to apply pressure to the tooth.

Crowns can be used to fix teeth that have been severely damaged by decay or a fracture. When a tooth requires a feeling that is too much for what’s left of the tooth, a crown can be used to strengthen and secure it.

If a patient is getting a dental bridge to replace a lost tooth, dental crowns are used as anchors on the teeth adjacent to the gap.

Even if the damage is not so severe that it requires a dental crown for support and strength, they can be used to improve the appearance of teeth. Certain materials like porcelain and resin can be color matched to the other teeth for a natural look.

Balancing Strength with Appearance

An important aspect to consider when getting dental crowns is the location and function of the tooth being repaired.

Teeth toward the back, like molars, are subjected to high pressures for chewing. This is why most often a molar will be the tooth to fracture.

Teeth toward the front, such as incisors and canines aren’t subjected to the same forces, but they do need to be durable.

Regardless of their location, the proximity of a tooth to be repaired to adjacent teeth must also be considered.

●     Generally speaking, molar crowns should be constructed from metal, including gold, palladium, nickel, or chromium.

●     The type of metal used may vary based on its price point or any allergies the patient has.

The reason these teeth should have metal crowns is that these crowns are the most durable. They can more easily withstand the pressures of chewing.

●     Due to their forefront location, front teeth are most often covered with porcelain, resin, or porcelain-metal crowns.

These teeth are more visible, so patients tend to go for a more natural look. These materials can be color matched to the patient’s teeth for a natural appearance.

●     Teeth that sit in close proximity to adjacent teeth to the point where they touch may affect material choice.

Resin crowns produce the least amount of wear on nearby teeth, so they will prolong the health of your natural teeth better. However, they will also wear themselves out more quickly than any other material.

All porcelain and all ceramic crowns are more durable than resin, but they are still much less durable than metal or even metal-porcelain hybrids. These crowns are also more prone to fractures, which is why it is not advised to get them for molars.

Proper care of dental crowns will prolong their lifespan, helping you get the most out of them. Be sure that your new crown is comfortable before leaving the dental office as well.

If a crown isn’t set properly, it can cause problems like infections. A well set crown will seamlessly be sealed to the host tooth, and will feel like any other tooth. If it isn’t comfortable, let the dentist know so it can be adjusted or a new one can be fashioned.