Porcelain crowns are ceramic caps that are fixed over damaged teeth to protect them from further damage and preserve their functionality. They are commonly used to repair damage caused by chipped, cracked or broken teeth and can also be used to add extra security to dental processes such as root canal procedures and fillings.
If a tooth is fractured or a portion is chipped away, a dentist will initially try to repair the damage with composite resin, or dental bonding as it is otherwise known. If the area damaged is too large, or the fracture too severe, the only option may be to use a crown to cap the tooth and preserve its structural integrity. Likewise, if a filling or dental inlay is sufficiently large it may need a dental crown to provide extra security from further damage and in some cases to enable the patient to keep the tooth.
Porcelain is a type of ceramic that is very durable and also has the benefit of appearing just like tooth enamel. Porcelain can be chosen to closely resemble the colour of the patient’s existing teeth which also makes it look more realistic. Porcelain crowns may be more expensive than crowns made form other ceramic material or bonding but they will last much longer and are therefore cheaper in the long run. A porcelain crown can last as long as twenty years compared to the average five-year life span of other materials.
Dental crowns are not always the first choice of repair as they involve the removal of enamel before they can be fixed. This enamel removal is becoming less important as technology improves and crowns become thinner, but dentists are always slightly reluctant to remove any enamel unless absolutely necessary. Crown technology has also seen the advent of computer-aided design and manufacture which is greatly reducing the amount of time needed to fit a crown.
Dental crowns are a vital part of both preventative and cosmetic dentistry. They can make the difference between keeping a tooth and losing it and can also fully restore the appearance of the dental arc. A Leeds dentist will be able to examine any damage you have sustained to your teeth and assess whether you would benefit form a porcelain crown.
Look after your teeth and they will last a lifetime. So the saying goes, and there really is a lot of truth in it. Caring for your teeth involves making only small sacrifices but just these few preventative measures could prevent years of misery caused by dental decay and other associated dental problems. Having problems with your teeth is no laughing matter as anyone who has had a root canal procedure will tell you but can easily be avoided by following a few simple rules.