As a favourite of several celebrities, porcelain crowns are one of the best and most effective cosmetic dentistry treatments that can create a dazzling and perfectly straight smile.
Crowns can be applied to damaged, crooked and discoloured teeth to correct their appearance and support their structure and are a much more cost effective than alternative and more invasive options.
What is a porcelain crown?
A porcelain crown is a thin piece of porcelain that is attached to the surface of a tooth. Porcelain crowns re-establish the function of the tooth and are a brilliant option for people that grind or clench their teeth. Crowns can also be used purely for cosmetic reasons and are indistinguishable for your natural teeth.
How are porcelain crowns fitted?
Having porcelain crowns fitted usually takes two dental appointments to allow for the crowns to be created in a laboratory.
During the first appointment, your cosmetic dentist will examine the condition of your natural teeth to ensure that they are strong enough and healthy enough to support a porcelain crown. If the teeth are not strong enough, other cosmetic dentistry treatments may be considered.
If the teeth are in good enough condition, your dentist will file down the surface of each tooth to make room for the crown to guarantee that the crowns will fit correctly in the mouth. For teeth that are damaged, the dentist might need to fill areas of each tooth so they are large enough to support the crown.
After the teeth have been filled or shaped, an impression is taken. This is completely painless and consists of you pressing your teeth into a moulding solution that then sets leaving an exact impression of your teeth. This mould is then sent to the laboratory and used to create your porcelain crowns. A temporary crown will be fitted to protect the newly shaped teeth until the final crowns have been made.
The second visit takes place when your crowns have been made by the laboratory and sent to your dental clinic. During this visit, the temporary crowns are removed and a bonding agent is applied to your final set of porcelain crowns. The crowns are then placed over the surface of each tooth and a blue light is used to set the bonding agent and hold the crowns in place.
Your dentist will examine your new crowns to confirm that they are in the correct place and are properly aligned.
How do I maintain them?
Porcelain crowns are extremely simple to take care of because they are very similar to natural teeth. They need to be brushed twice per day using a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste and flossed on a regular basis.
You will also need to attend a follow up appointment with your dentist a few weeks after your crowns have been fitted so your dentist can make sure you are adjusting to them and that they are still in the correct position. Any problems or concerns you have about your crowns can be discussed during the follow up appointment.
What are the benefits of choosing crowns over other cosmetic dentistry procedures?
Having porcelain crowns comes with a variety of benefits. These include:
Book a consultation with Dr Back
If you would like to find out more about porcelain crowns or book a consultation, call our practice on 941-888-7708 and we will be happy to answer any of your questions.
