Sometimes you have a cavity and it is easily fixed with a filling. When a filling won’t do it, sometimes a crown is needed. A dental crown is actually a false copy of your tooth that is affixed to the irrigated tooth with dental cement. Here we will learn a little bit about how dental crowns work and why they are needed.

When a cavity is too large, and damages too much of the tooth, a crown is needed. The dentist has to remove a great deal of a damaged tooth in order to get rid of the decay, and a crown is needed to restore the appearance of the tooth, as well as making the tooth strong.

To prepare a tooth for a crown, the dentist first has to remove all the damaged parts of the tooth. This is what necessitates the crown in the first place – when a great deal of the tooth has to be removed. The remaining tooth is ground down, removing all the enamel and bringing the tooth down to the dentin. Usually there is not enough tooth left to retain a prosthetic (the crown). In that case, the dentist has to use build-up material so that the crown can be affixed to the tooth and stay put. Crowns can be made of many different types of materials.

Metal crowns can be made of gold, palladium, nickel, or chromium, and they are used when less actual tooth has to be removed. Metal crowns perform the best in terms of wear – and they don’t chip. They do have color, however, so they are best used on back teeth, and they can only be used when tooth damage is minimal.

Resin is another material used to create crowns. They are the least expensive option, but there is a greater chance that the crown will need to be replaced frequently. Resin tends to break easily, and it wears down quickly.

Ceramic or porcelain crowns are the closest to natural teeth in color. Also, some people have metal allergies, and those people need to have all-porcelain or all-ceramic crowns. However, these types of crowns have the unfortunate side effect of wearing down the surrounding teeth, and they aren’t as strong. Because of their color, they are the most suitable for front crowns.

One good middle-of-the-road option is a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown. The metal that is affixed to the tooth is very resilient, and the porcelain at top can match the surrounding teeth. One downside is that, like ceramic or porcelain crowns, porcelain-fused-to-metal can wear down the surrounding teeth, and the porcelain can wear down, showing the metal underneath. The upside is that this type of crown is equally good for back and front teeth.

Of course, it’s best to avoid the need for a dental crown by brushing your teeth after every meal and flossing at least once per day. Proper oral hygiene can make all the difference in not only your tooth health, but also in your general health.

Give us a call us today! We’ll be happy to answer all your questions, give you an accurate quote, schedule your appointment, and help you make all the arrangements needed for your visit to Tijuana. Dental Integral is the best option for professional and affordable dental care.