One of the most commonly used dental appliances is the dental crown, also referred to as a “cap.” Crowns are extremely versatile and used in a variety of dental procedures, including as the artificial teeth in dental implants and bridges, and on their own to protect teeth that have undergone a root canal or as an alternative to protect what remains of a tooth after a large amount of decay is removed. Crowns serve important functions in dentistry, and Dr. Mobley is pleased to offer these versatile restorations to her Austin, TX patients.
Types of Crowns
When used as stand-alone restorative appliances, crowns are designed to cover the entire surface of the tooth, right down to the gum line. Generally speaking, there are two varieties of crowns available: porcelain crowns, which are made to very closely match the color of the patient’s natural teeth; and metal (typically gold) crowns. Those made of porcelain are typically used for teeth located in the front of the mouth. Because these crowns look very much like natural teeth, they are the aesthetically pleasing choice when used in a location that is visible when the patient smiles. Metal crowns, on the other hand, are typically used with molars located in the back of the mouth. Gold is extremely strong and durable, and since our molars do most of the work in chewing food, it makes sense that metal crowns would be used for this purpose.
Although the different types of crowns have different purposes, both metal and porcelain crowns are very durable, often lasting for many, many years.
The Dental Crown Procedure
Whether you choose a porcelain or metal crown, the process involved in getting a new crown is the same. Dr. Mobley begins by removing any existing decay and/or old filling material, after which she thoroughly cleans the surface. She then makes an impression of the tooth, which will be used by a dental lab to create the permanent crown. Because it typically takes a week to 10 days for the crown to be made, the patient is fitted with a temporary one in the interim. During a second trip to the office, the permanent crown is placed.
Patient 3
This patient came to me with a chief complaint of, “my midline is not straight and I’m starting to develop a lisp”. We decided best way to correct her problem and match to existing porcelain restorations was to replace six upper crowns canine to canine.
She wore temporary crowns for about 3 weeks of the proposed new design while the lab fabricated the new Emax Porcelain crowns. We delivered Emax Crowns HT BL2.
The final product turned out beautiful. We also made her a new retainer after treatment to assure her teeth do not move. This is always recommended with any cosmetic case.
Before
After
Contact Us Today
To find out more about our dental services, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Megan Mobley, contact our Austin, TX office today.
