Dental decay, gum disease, or trauma are the leading factors that lead to tooth damage. This can greatly impact your oral form, function, and aesthetics. But fret not! We have a permanent solution to such problems- porcelain crowns.
Porcelain crowns provided by the dentist in Uptown Phoenix, AZ, offer excellent tooth rehabilitation to restore its original form and function.
An introduction to porcelain crowns
Porcelain crowns are the most preferred of all dental crowns. These are tooth-colored aesthetic caps that completely engulf the damaged or diseased tooth to restore its original shape and form. A porcelain crown is customized according to the shape, size, and color of your natural teeth. These coverings protect your tooth from further damage or infection.
Indications for a porcelain crown
Porcelain crowns are recommended by dentists to:
- Restore broken or fractured teeth
- Rehabilitate those teeth that are visible when you smile (for cosmetic concerns)
- Aesthetically enhance your facial profile
- Restore badly decayed teeth
- Replace large fillings that are prone to frequent fractures
- Cover teeth that have undergone root canal therapy
The procedure involved in fabricating a porcelain crown
Porcelain crowns are simple to fabricate and involve the following steps:
- Your dentists will evacuate the decayed tissues from the tooth surface using ultrasonic instruments. The dentist may use a local anesthetic so that you don’t feel any pain or discomfort.
- If the decay involves the pulp, your dentist may perform root canal therapy to remove the pulp tissue and clean the root canals.
- The tooth is prepared using dental burs to give a specific shape so the crown can fit the tooth snugly.
- Several oral impressions will be recorded to create a mold to fabricate the crown.
- An appropriate shade will be selected according to your natural teeth.
- A temporary crown will be placed until the permanent crown is fabricated.
- After about a week, you will be called for the permanent crown placement.
- The temporary crown will be removed and the porcelain crown will be placed.
- The crown will be evaluated to provide a proper occlusion, and necessary adjustments will be made if there are high points.
Porcelain crowns are excellent dental restorations when regular fillings are not a great option. These aesthetic caps help preserve your natural tooth structure. Although porcelain crowns can’t decay, you still need to care for them by brushing them twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and a soft toothbrush. This can help enhance the longevity of your crowns to reap their full benefits.