| The part of a natural
tooth above the gum line, covered with enamel,
is called the ‘crown’ of the tooth.
Simply, it is the tooth visible to us in general.
Sometimes the enamel becomes discolored, decayed,
or misshapen. It is removed by dental work and
replaced with a new covering, called crown. In
cosmetic dentistry, a crown is a type of dental
restoration that fully covers part of the natural
tooth lying above the gum line.
Composition of Dental Crowns
A dental crown used as restorative is usually
made of porcelain, metal like gold etc., metal
alloy, or a combination of these. To give extra
strength to the crown, it is made of porcelain
covering an internal metal coping. Following three
types of crowns are used in common dental practice:
- Gold Crowns
- Porcelain Crowns
- Porcelain Fused-to-Metal Crowns
Gold Crowns
Gold crowns are relatively easy to prepare and
do not cause wear on opposing teeth. They also
provide a healthier environment for the gum tissue.
The main disadvantage of gold crowns is their
color that does not match that of natural teeth
and hence is not preferred for front teeth restoration.
Porcelain Crowns
The main reason of preferring a porcelain crown
is that it looks as natural as one's own natural
tooth. Two main disadvantages are encountered
in fitting a porcelain crown for restoration:
- It requires removal of more tooth structure
for a proper fit.
- Patients choosing it for restoration commonly
report gum inflammation.
Porcelain Fused-to-Metal Crowns
These crowns too have a very natural look. However,
they fail to replicate the translucency of natural
tooth because of having a metal substructure.
Sometimes, a dark line is visible at the edge
of the crown, near the gum line.
Other Types of Crown
Besides the three main types, other types of
crowns are also used in dental restoration. These
include:
- Polycarbonate Crowns: used for restoring front
teeth
- Stainless steel Crowns: used for restoring
back teeth
Teeth that Need Crowns
This type of teeth needs restoration with crowns:
- Back teeth having a history of root canals
- Teeth consisting of more than half filling
material
- Teeth that have circumferential gingival decay
i.e. the decay is spreading at the gum line
- Teeth that appear ugly due to wear, discoloration
etc.
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