Have you heard about dental crowns and wondering what they are all about? A dental crown is basically a prosthetic cap molded like a tooth, that can put the tooth back to its initial shape and size or improve the way it looks. Another task of a dental crown is to support and protect a tooth that is almost gone completely.
Types of dental crowns
Dental crowns can be made of metals, porcelain fused to metal, resin, or porcelain. Each type of dental crown has certain benefits and disadvantages that are worth learning about. For instance, metal crowns last longer and they are essentially best for chewing and biting. Crowns made from metal rarely experience fractures and are best for molars, which are out of sight and are used mainly for chewing hard foods. Porcelain crowns fused to metal can be matched to the color of your adjacent teeth. However, the crown’s porcelain portion can break off or chip. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are a good choice for the front and back teeth. Crowns that are made of resin are more affordable than the other types but do not last as long. Porcelain crowns provide the best natural color match than any of the other types, and are ideal for the front teeth.
Getting your dental crowns from your cosmetic dentist
While some dental procedures can be done in a single visit to your Sarasota Florida cosmetic dentist, you can get your dental crowns usually in two visits. Dr. Peter Engelsberg, your cosmetic dentist at Midtown Dental Center in Sarasota Florida can provide you with a temporary crown, usually made of acrylic or stainless steel, while your permanent crowns are made in a dental laboratory. During the first visit, Dr. Engelsberg may need to take X-rays to check the roots of the tooth receiving the crown.
Your Sarasota Florida dentist will tell you to observe certain precautions while having a temporary crown. For example, you should avoid sticky foods such as caramel or chewing gum. You should also use the side of your mouth that has the temporary crown sparingly. Chewing hard foods such as raw vegetables should be avoided while wearing a temporary crown.
Your permanent crowns will be available and will be placed during your second visit to your dentist’s office. Permanent dental crowns can last between five to fifteen years, largely depending on your hygiene and oral health habits. Grinding your teeth, chewing ice, and using your teeth to open packaging can lessen the durability of your dental crowns.
What will I experience while wearing my crowns?
A tooth with its new crown may become sensitive as soon as the anesthesia starts to wear off. If the newly crowned tooth still has a nerve in it, you may experience some sensitivity to heat and cold. Your dentist might also recommend that you brush your teeth with toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth. For more information about dental crowns, contact your local Sarasota Florida cosmetic dentist at Midtown Dental Center.
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