Category: Benefits of Crowns

The purpose of a dental crown is to save a natural tooth. When a tooth is broken, weak, or has a cavity is too large for a filling, the only other option is to extract it. We offer a number of excellent options for replacing missing teeth, but the best solution is to save the natural tooth. However, we understand that you don’t want to invest time and money in crowning a tooth, only to have it fail immediately. Many people ask how long crowns last. The answer depends largely on how you care for it.

Why crowns do – or don’t – fail

Dental crowns are long lasting restorations, but they are not considered permanent. After a period of time, a crown may become loose or fall off, but this doesn’t have to happen. When a crown fails, it is usually for one of three reasons:

• Quality – The skill and experience of your dentist is important because any error in the design or placement of a crown can affect its durability. Dr. Dietrich has been placing crowns for over 25 years. He knows how to shape the tooth, how to get an accurate impression, what to look for when checking the fit of a crown, and how to cement it in place for maximum retention.
• Cavities – Crowns are made of porcelain, metal, zirconia, or resin. None of these materials are susceptible to decay, but don’t forget about the tooth under the crown. When you brush and floss, be extra careful to clean around the edges of the restoration. If plaque accumulates there, it can erode the enamel causing a cavity under the crown. This is one more reason that regular checkups are important. If a cavity begins to form, you may not even know it until your crown falls off. Your dentist can detect the problem early, when it is treatable.
• Damage – Porcelain crowns, just like natural teeth, can be broken. This can usually be avoided by wearing mouth guards when participating in sports, avoiding extremely hard foods, and avoiding habits like chewing ice or holding objects in your teeth. These same steps will also help protect other dental work and healthy, untreated teeth.

With Dr. Dietrich’s skills, and your commitment to good oral care, your restored smile can last for a very long time. Call Pleasant Dental at [phone] and schedule a consultation to learn more about your options for restoring your smile.

Broken, damaged, or weakened teeth can be fortified and protected with dental crowns. Historically, these restorations were purely functional. They did not improve the appearance of a smile significantly, but they restored the ability to speak clearly and chew efficiently, as well as preventing damage to the treated tooth. Today, patients have the option of choosing cosmetic porcelain dental crowns, which restore the functionality and esthetics of teeth.

Our cosmetic crowns are fabricated in a quality dental laboratory, by technicians with extensive experience. However, even the very best ceramist can only create a crown as good as the design. To ensure proper shape, precise impressions of the upper and lower arches are needed. For optimal esthetics, the color must be matched perfectly to that of your natural teeth.

Coloring

Dr. Dietrich will use a shade guide to determine the best color match for your tooth. Dental porcelain is highly stain resistant, so it will retain its coloring. However, it is also resistant to bleaching gels. If the crown is matched to dark or yellowed teeth, it will be unchanged while your teeth become several shades lighter. Be sure to tell the doctor if you plan of whitening your teeth after the crown is placed, so that this issue can be taken into consideration.

Design

After the damaged portion of the tooth has been removed, and the remaining structure has been shaped, Dr. Dietrich will take impressions. The impression material starts out as a fairly soft almost dough like consistency. It is placed in trays that fit in your mouth comfortably. The tray will need to stay in your mouth for about one to three minutes while the impression sets up. The result is a rubbery mold, which is used to create a stone replica of your teeth, for use by the dental lab. An additional, smaller impression is usually taken for use in creating a temporary crown.

The temporary is placed on the prepared tooth, so that you can eat and smile normally while waiting for your permanent restoration. Fabrication of the crown by a laboratory may take up to three weeks, as this is precision work. A natural appearance is achieved using various techniques such as adding subtle color inclusions and layering the porcelain to mimic the natural appearance of tooth enamel.

In addition to cosmetic crowns, Dr. Dietrich offers a new highly durable material called zirconia, which may be preferable in some situations due to strength or affordability. If your smile is in need of restoration, call Pleasant Dental at [phone] and schedule an appointment. We are located in Dolton, proudly serving area communities such as Calumet City, Riverdale, and South Holland.

The field of dentistry is evolving rapidly, thanks to extensive research, improved materials, and new technology. Although many traditional techniques have fallen out of favor over the years, dental crowns are a tried-and-true solution that maintains its popularity. In fact, crowns are more versatile than ever.

Materials

In ancient times a variety of materials, including bone and human teeth, were used for dental restorations. Gold was the first durable, biocompatible dental material. In 1905, the first porcelain “jacket” crown was created, paving the way for the beautiful cosmetic restorations available today. Stainless steel is also used, especially for restoring primary teeth, or as temporary restorations.

Many patients ask what material is best, but that depends on many factors. Gold is certainly the most durable, and non-damaging to other teeth. It could be considered the perfect material for restorations, except for two things: price and appearance. Porcelain, or porcelain fused to a metal base can be made to match your smile perfectly at a much lower price, making these options the most popular among patients.

Types of crowns

There are two types of crowns. One is a false tooth, which is attached to a dental implant. What most people think of when they hear “dental crown” is the traditional type, which shrouds the tooth in a hard material, protecting it and restoring function. They may be temporary or permanent.

• Temporary crowns are typically made from a less expensive material, but they are designed for maximum comfort and functionality. The most important difference is the cement. A temporary adhesive compound is used, so that your dentist can remove the crown easily and comfortably without damaging the tooth. This also means the crown can be accidently dislodged, so you will need to be careful with hard or sticky foods.
• Permanent crowns are created in a dental laboratory, from impressions of your tooth. The process usually takes a couple of weeks. Dr. Dietrich will verify the fit and appearance of the crown, and make any necessary adjustments, before bonding it in place. Once the procedure is complete, your tooth should be pain free and trouble free for many, many years.

Call [phone] for more information or an appointment. Pleasant Dental is located Dolton, IL, convenient to South Holland and other area communities.

You probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about dental crowns. That is, until you need one. A crown is one of the most basic tried-and-true restorations. This technique has been saving teeth since the beginning of modern dentistry. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that nothing has changed.

Today’s techniques are more precise, more accurate, and more reliable, creating a much better crown. Additionally, we have a wide variety of materials available. Some dentists promote sturdy gold crowns, and some exclusively use cosmetic porcelain. Many patients ask Dr. Dietrich what material he uses for crowns, and the answer is, “whatever you want.” Every option has its own distinct advantage, and, since it is going in your mouth, the doctor believes that you should have options.

There are several factors to consider when choosing a crown material, with the most important being:

• Cost – Metal crowns fall at both ends of the scale, with stainless steel being the most economical, and gold being the most expensive. Steel crowns are an especially popular option for kids’ primary teeth. Resin is a very inexpensive option, but it is not strong, and therefore it is typically used for temporary restorations only.
• Durability – Gold certainly takes first prize here. It will not break or wear out, and it is gentle on enamel, further reducing the chances of failure. Other types of metal come in second-place, along with a unique option of porcelain fused to metal. Ceramics can break, making them vulnerable to impacts as well as biting forces. However, today’s dental ceramics are formulated for strength and resilience, making them tougher and more versatile than the porcelain of a few years ago.
• Appearance – Porcelain ceramic is the clear winner here. It is naturally stain-resistant, and remarkably similar to tooth enamel in appearance and opalescence. The color and translucency are customized during fabrication, for a restoration that looks natural and flawless. Porcelain fused to a metal base is a close second. It looks just like a porcelain crown, but there is a chance of a dark line developing around the base, due to the color of the metal.
• Health – There is not a clear answer for this, because everyone is different. Some people are allergic to metals, and others have personal objections to metal. In these cases, porcelain is considered the healthiest choice. However, allergies to gold are extremely rare, and it offers some unique oral health benefits. Because it is malleable (not rigid) it is much gentler to the opposing tooth. Additionally, gold contacts and expands at a similar rate to tooth material, so it causes less stress on the treated tooth.

After an evaluation, Dr. Dietrich will discuss your options, and answer your questions, helping you make an informed decision. Call [phone] and schedule a consultation today.

Ideally, teeth are naturally healthy, well-shaped, and well proportioned. However, sometimes they don’t develop quite right. More frequently, a once-healthy tooth may fall victim to decay, fractures, infection, or oral injury. Thankfully, we are long past the days when dentists simply pulled problematic teeth. Today, there are a number of restorative options, suited to various situations.

Unless it is terribly damaged, or loose, your tooth can probably be saved. Some of the most common restoration techniques include:

• Fillings – A cavity can usually be repaired in just one visit, with a cosmetic filling that matches surrounding tooth enamel flawlessly.
• Bonding – This procedure is very similar to a cosmetic filling, but it can be used to correct chips, permanent stains, and other minor issues.
• Veneers – Typically reserved for cosmetic improvement, veneers may also be appropriate for very small chips or fractures.
• Crowns – Severely decayed, broken, weak, or otherwise damaged teeth often need dental crowns. These restorations, also called caps, cover the tooth in a strong, durable material such as porcelain. They can strengthen and protect teeth as well as restoring proper size and shape.
• Bridges, dentures, and implants – If your tooth is gone, or it is damaged too badly to save; your smile can still be restored. We offer a variety of options, from traditional bridges and full or partial dentures to modern implant-supported restorations.

After a comprehensive examination, Dr. Dietrich will explain which options are available, and the pros and cons of each choice. Pleasant Dental is not a high pressure, pretentious, or sales-oriented dental office. No one will look down on you if you go for the least expensive solution possible, and no one will judge you if you want nothing but the best. We also understand that, no matter how large or small your budget is, you want to stretch it as far as possible. We accept most dental insurance, and we will be happy to help you enjoy the maximum benefits of your plan.

Dentistry is all about improving patients’ quality of life, and Dr. Dietrich believes the best way to accomplish that is by providing honest information, a wide variety of options, quality work, and old-fashioned customer service. Call [phone] and schedule an appointment to find out for yourself why our practice is named Pleasant Dental.