Dental Crowns - Tampa

dentist officeCracking, root canals, lost fillings and other trauma can permanently damage a tooth’s structure. When the surface of the tooth is a problem but the root is healthy, covering the tooth with a dental crown may be the answer.

This article discusses different types of dental crowns available from Dr. Moradian in Tampa.

Dental crowns cover the entire tooth and are excellent alternatives to veneers and dentures. Natural-looking and aesthetically pleasing, dental crowns are excellent for replacing individual missing teeth or severely injured teeth while at the same time adding strength and stability to the tooth (wiki source).

Porcelain Dental Crowns

Dr. Moradian offers dental crowns made of porcelain that are designed to match the color and texture of your existing teeth.

By working directly with a dental lab we are able to provide our patients with the most natural-looking and aesthetically attractive crowns.

Unlike other dental offices that leave it up to the lab to create their restorations, our practice tells the lab exactly what we want our dental crowns to look like in order to achieve the most natural restorations possible that are blended in with the existing teeth of the patient.

Dental Crown Procedure

Dental crowns involve intricate preparation of the damaged tooth before the restoration can take place.

Because dental crowns are used to restore cracked teeth or teeth that have undergone root canals, they need to fit appropriately to perform and function as the natural teeth would.

The tooth that will be receiving the dental crown will be first reduced to make room for the dental crown. The tooth structure that is removed will depend on how much healthy tooth structure remains.

Your dental crown dentist will only remove as much healthy tooth structure as required to provide the patient with a healthy, stable restoration.

After your tooth has been prepared for the crown your tooth will be numbed and the new crown will be painlessly cemented into place.

Lifespan of Dental Crowns

Patients need to care for their dental crown the same way that they care for their natural teeth—with regular brushing and flossing and preventative dental check-ups to avoid the accumulation of plaque.

Dental crowns can last up to 15 years depending on the dental hygiene habits of the patient and the wear and tear that it is exposed to.

Dental Caps​

When the entire surface of the tooth is a problem, but the root system is intact, a dental cap or tooth cap might be appropriate for you.

There are generally several main types of caps – those made of gold, porcelain, zirconium, ceramic caps and ceramic-veneered gold caps.

Gold and metal-ceramic caps are extremely durable and are normally used in molars, where the forces from chewing and grinding are most prevalent.

Ceramic caps are used primarily for front teeth, since they can best resemble the natural tooth color and are more pleasing to the eye.

Types of Porcelain used with Dental Caps

There are basically two types of porcelain you’re likely to hear and read about most when researching dental caps and crowns- the felspathic and pressed ceramic porcelains. The felspathic type is the original method that has been around for 20 years.

A lab technician bakes porcelain onto tin foil and then heats it in an oven. They are able to create tints and opaques inside the porcelain of the dental cap or crown to give the natural look we seek.

Resin and Porcelain Caps

The new reinforced resin or bonded all-porcelain type of cap has the nicest appearance. This cap can be made from pure ceramic or a new reinforced composite resin. It is almost indistinguishable from natural teeth.

The new bonding technology involved provides an exceptional bond your tooth. It is metal-free, and thus satisfies the needs of patients with metal sensitivities.

When correcting your back teeth with bonding, the cosmetic dentist will perform a tooth colored onlay.

This type of procedure is used to correct only the parts of your tooth that are in need. This procedure is metal-free.

Caps Made of Gold

Gold caps are used when appearance is not a priority to you. The gold is extremely workable, making gold caps a more precise fit than any other type.

While there exists a slight possibility of chipping with porcelain caps, gold caps provide no such possibility.

Porcelain Fused-to-Metal Crowns (PFM)

For a very natural appearance, porcelain fused to metal caps is the answer for you. Porcelain fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns is a widely used type of dental crowns.

However, they have a metal substructure and require an opaque below the porcelain, which can make the translucency of natural teeth difficult to match.

Sometimes a darker line will be visible at the edge of the cap, near to your gum when your gum recedes with age.

E- MAX: Lithium Disilicate Crowns

The E-Max crown is the new crown on the block. It’s made of lithium disilicate ceramic (material study), which is stronger and more durable than zirconium

Lithium disilicate is a material that is translucent, yet very durable. Therefore, patients receive a crown that looks identical to their other teeth.

Due to the remarkable appearance and lack of chipping, E-Max crowns made of lithium disilicate are expensive.

Dental Crowns for Pinellas County