Dental Crown
Skokie, IL
 Restoring a tooth isn’t just about repairing aesthetic appearances, although that is definitely a positive effect. The main goal is to help restore the tooth to its original functionality by strengthening it and bringing back the structural integrity it once had. A dental crown fulfills these purposes by protecting a compromised tooth that has suffered from decay, fractures, or has had a root canal performed on it. At Chicago Dental Esthetics, our professionals provide the treatment our patients need to get back to confidently smiling and using their teeth as they were intended.
Dental Crowns Restore Lost Tooth Functionality
A dental crown doesn’t fix the underlying tooth itself. Instead, it fits over the tooth as a protective barrier.
Scenarios Where a Crown May Be Used
A root canal procedure involves removing the infected pulp in the middle of the tooth and filling it. This procedure can save a tooth from needing extraction, but it also leaves the tooth weaker than it was before. It is recommended to have a crown placed on a tooth that has undergone a root canal to increase the chances of the tooth being with the patient for the rest of their life. If a tooth has fractures or damages from decay that compromise its strength and functionality, a dental crown can restore both the structural integrity and the aesthetic appearance of the compromised tooth. While crowns are intended to be used for functional purposes, some people opt to have a crown to fix imperfections in a tooth. A well-placed crown that has been shaded properly can blend in with natural teeth and is a great option for this reason. A traditional dental bridge will use 2 crowns that sit on top of abutment teeth on opposite sides with the pontic teeth in the middle.
How Long Does a Dental Crown Last?
There are multiple factors that determine exactly how long a crown can last. What is important is taking care of the crown well - ensuring that the patient is brushing every day and not applying unnecessary forces onto it that can damage it over time, such as chewing hard foods. Another factor in the longevity of a dental crown is the materials that are used to create it. There are a variety of different types of crowns available such as porcelain, composite resin, and gold. Porcelain appears more accurate to what a real tooth looks like and is particularly strong and resistant to staining. Composite resin also can blend in with surrounding teeth but isn’t as durable as porcelain and can stain over time. Gold is considered one of the most durable and long-lasting crown materials and can be with a person for 30 years or more. On average, a porcelain crown can last up to 15 years while a resin crown can last up to 10 years.
Traditional crowns are made out of materials such as resin, porcelain, and ceramic. They typically take multiple visits to prep and place. A dental crown that is either made from porcelain-fused-to-metal, ceramic, or composite resin is shaded to look like the surrounding teeth and thus these are the materials most commonly used for cosmetic dentistry. There are pros and cons to each, but they will all serve their purpose quite well.
Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC) crowns are a relatively new form of delivering quality dental crowns to patients in just a single visit. Normally a crown can take up to 3 weeks to be created and fitted. However, CEREC crowns use computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) to allow us at Chicago Dental Esthetics to create the crowns and fit them into the patient in a single afternoon.
If You Are In Need Of Tooth Restoration, We Are Here For You
At Chicago Dental Esthetics, our range of preventative, restorative, and cosmetic services will help you regain a smile that you can feel confident about. If you would like to contact our team to schedule an appointment or ask any questions, you can call our office at (224) 341-5162. |
