A single cracked, decayed or missing tooth can affect the entire smile. Dental crowns offer a solution, restoring the form, function and aesthetics of damaged teeth. A few different types of crowns are available – and in Matteson, Illinois, the professional team at Progressive Dental & Associates has the expertise to provide tooth restorations of the highest quality. If you’re looking for a smile makeover, a dental crown may be just what you need. Continue reading to find out more, or to get started, give our dentist office a call at (708) 980-0110 and schedule a consultation today.
What are Dental Crowns?
Also referred to as a dental cap, a dental crown is a tooth-shaped covering designed to restore both the appearance and the structural integrity of a damaged tooth. Dentists also rely on crowns to create dental bridges, which replace missing teeth.
Dental crowns serve a number of purposes. In Matteson, Illinois, dentists frequently recommend the restorations to:
- Repair a broken tooth
- Strengthen a weak tooth
- Hide a discolored tooth
- Cover a misshapen tooth
- Anchor a dental bridge
- Protect a tooth after a root canal
- Support a tooth with a large filling
Crowns can be made of a few different materials, and at Progressive Dental & Associates, we offer customized restorations to meet the unique needs and goals of each patient. People in Matteson, Illinois, turn to us for the following:
All-Ceramic Dental Crowns
All-ceramic or porcelain crowns are the most true-to-life in terms of appearance, and they’re often the best choice for damaged front teeth. Ceramic tooth restorations are also ideal for individuals with metal allergies. However, it’s worth noting that porcelain isn’t the strongest option – and while all-ceramic crowns are durable, they’re more susceptible to damage than the other options.
Ceramic-on-Metal Crowns
Ceramic-on-metal crowns offer the aesthetic appeal of all-ceramic restorations, but with increased durability, as a metal structure serves as the internal support. Also called porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns, the restorations are commonly used with both the front and back teeth. In some cases, though, the metal supporting the porcelain becomes visible, making the crowns look less lifelike.
All-Metal Dental Crowns
Metal crowns are exceptionally durable, and since they rarely chip or break, they tend to last longer than other types of tooth restorations. Several metals – including gold, nickel and chromium – can be used to make dental crowns. Given the metallic color, dentists typically reserve these crowns for out-of-sight molars, but for patients who like the look, metal restorations can be placed on the front teeth.
Same-Day CEREC® Crowns
CEREC® crowns, made of a strong ceramic material, are designed and created with the use of computer-assisted technology. The tooth restorations lack a metal core, so much like all-ceramic crowns, they closely resemble the natural teeth. That said, the CEREC® system, or Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, has one major advantage – it allows patients a customized crown in one dental visit.
Which type of dental crown is right for you? At Progressive Dental & Associates, we consider several factors when making treatment recommendations, and before offering any advice on crown material, our experienced dentists look at the following:
- The location of the tooth to be restored
- The position of the surrounding gum tissues
- The function of the tooth in need of a crown
- The amount of the tooth that shows when smiling
The right dental crown might also be one of the newer options in use throughout the world, such as a zirconia or lithium disilicate restoration. At any rate, our professional team will make sure you get the best results.
What are Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges, as the name suggests, act as an actual bridge, closing a gap in the grin. Matteson patients with missing teeth benefit from these restorations, which consist of one or more abutments, the support structures, along with at least one pontic, or replacement tooth.
As we mentioned above, dental crowns are commonly used as anchors for dental bridges. Here at Progressive Dental & Associates, our dentists offer:
Traditional dental bridges, which feature a crown at each end and pontics, or artificial teeth, between the abutments.
Cantilever dental bridges, which have one or more pontics supported by a crown on one end and a natural tooth on the other.
Implant-supported bridges, which are anchored not with dental crowns, but with implanted teeth, known as dental implants.
What type of dental bridge might be right for you? Our highly skilled dentists take a range of factors into account when making this determination, and the best choice will depend upon the following:
- The number of teeth you’re missing
- The relative size of the gap in your smile
- The condition of the neighboring teeth
- The overall health of your mouth
Getting a Dental Crown or Dental Bridge
Whether you’re in need of a dental crown or a dental bridge, tooth restorations typically require at least two dentist visits – one to prepare the mouth, take impressions of the teeth and place a temporary restoration, and one to replace that with a customized crown or bridge. However, at Progressive Dental & Associates, we also offer CEREC® restorations, making it possible to rejuvenate your smile in a single day.
Getting any type of tooth restoration may involve a bit of discomfort, but with our expertise in sedation dentistry, this shouldn’t be a concern. We’re able to offer oral sedatives or laughing gas to our patients, and either can help ensure you’re comfortable in the dentist chair.
When placed by an experienced dentist, dental crowns and bridges can last for up to 15 years – and with proper care, some last even longer. If you have damaged or missing teeth and want tooth restorations that are both durable and naturally beautiful, contact our dentist office in Matteson, Illinois, today.
