Choosing material for dental crowns from your Waterford dentist

When approaching treatment for dental issues, we keep an eye on longevity while acting as conservatively as possible. As often as we can, decay is removed and tooth structure restored with fillings. In some cases, however, damage is extensive enough to warrant better coverage. In such instances, we may recommend that a dental crown be used to cover a damaged tooth fully. Dental crowns used in our Waterford practice are carefully crafted to suit the neuromuscular structure of the jaw perfectly, leading to the healthiest restoration and longest lasting result.

There are a number of various materials that are used to fabricate dental crowns today, a far cry from the time when only metal seemed viable for this type of restoration. This amount of choice, however, can seem overwhelming when you do not understand the benefits of each type of material. In many cases, patients will simply look at the most budget friendly option. In reality, the most inexpensive material may not be the most cost-effective in the long run. Learning more about the available materials used to craft our dental crowns in Waterford will help you make a confident decision towards optimal treatment.

A metal long used in restorative procedures is gold. Used by many dentists on themselves and loved ones, gold is a material that some shy away from simply because it seems this metal would be highly visible in the smile. On the contrary, gold crowns placed on molars are quite discreet. The benefits of gold are worth the appearance. Strong and long lasting, gold is biocompatible, which means that gum tissue readily accepts a gold restoration without complication, whereas other metal alloy crowns can cause irritation to the gum tissue. Crowns crafted from gold are some of the longest-lived, withstanding the pressure of biting and chewing for many years. To make this type of crown more aesthetically pleasing, there is the option of a porcelain overlay, which leads to a seamless transition between teeth.

Today, more patients are leaning towards a holistic approach to restorations. In such cases, or when a crown is needed on a front tooth, there is the option of an all-ceramic crown. Containing no metal, ceramic crowns are free of the dark line that appears at the gum level with metal crowns. Like gold, ceramic is biocompatible, and strong enough to last for years.

Should the need arise for a dental crown; talk extensively with your dentist to discover which option will provide the best results in your situation.

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