Porcelain Crowns

Porcelain crowns function in a variety of roles to help improve one’s smile or oral health.  Besides solving dental problems, they can also be used in cosmetic dentistry to help improve the aesthetic appearance of the smile. Crowns have a long history of success in dentistry and the innovation of porcelain has only served to increase their effectiveness.

Porcelain crowns act to encircle a damaged tooth, and function to replace the tooth structure up to the gum line. The crown essentially replaces the defective, broken or fracturing enamel of the tooth providing support to the underlying structure, and allowing it to again function safely.

Indications

In dentistry, there are typically several solutions to any one dental problem. Because of the variety of needs porcelain crowns address, the reasons they are chosen differ from patient to patient. Crowns can be indicated as treatment for many oral health problems involving the teeth.
When teeth have been weakened by damage or decay, porcelain crowns become a good option. They protect and strengthen the remaining tooth structure.  This is important when a tooth that has been previously filled and no longer has the structure to support a filling.

Porcelain crowns are also important for protection after root canal therapy. After treatment, the teeth have a tendency to become brittle, leaving them vulnerable to breaking or fracture. Placing a porcelain crown can restore function and strength to a tooth after the root canal therapy.

Acting as support for bridges is another important role of porcelain crowns. When placing a bridge to replace missing teeth, adjacent teeth require crowns to be used as anchors for the prosthetic. Their function in this capacity, offers patients missing teeth, a permanent solution.

Porcelain crowns also play an integral role in cosmetic dentistry. When a tooth has become poorly shaped or extremely discolored, a porcelain crown can provide a solid solution. Crowns can also be used to correct alignment and spacing issues of the teeth.

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Advantages

Porcelain offers several advantages over other materials used to make crowns. Porcelain used in dental applications can be formed to closely resemble the natural look of tooth enamel. With porcelain crowns, dentists have the ability to match the patients other teeth, blending a unique, stain-resistant shade.

The material also offers strength and resilience, giving dental patients long lasting results. Porcelain crowns have a tenacious ability to bond to teeth, adding strength to the patient’s bite.

In most cases, it is nearly impossible to distinguish natural teeth from their porcelain counterparts.

Placing The Restoration

The process of installing porcelain crowns is usually accomplished over two office visits. Local anesthetic will normally accompany this type of procedure.

In preparation for placement of porcelain crowns, a thin layer of enamel is removed from the tooth. An impression is then taken, in order to get an exact measurement of the tooth and its surrounding space. The dentist will then place a transitional acrylic crown to protect the tooth and surrounding tissues.  This will be worn until your permanent porcelain crown can be created in the laboratory.

During the time while your permanent porcelain crown is being manufactured, be sure to practice proper dental hygiene.  Home cleaning and care is critical to maintaining health of your mouth until the permanent crown can be placed. If the transitional crown becomes loose, make sure to retain or reset its placement until you can make it to the office for repair.

When your porcelain crown is ready, an appointment will be scheduled for fitting.  The temporary crown will be removed and the area will be cleaned. The dentist will check the fit, placement and bite of the new crown for accuracy before it is cemented into place.

Maintenance

It is common to experience some increased sensitivity to your new porcelain crown. Additionally, the need for adjustments to the porcelain crown will sometime arise. A follow up appointment can be scheduled to ensure the crown is functioning correctly. If you experience questions or concerns, you should consult Dr. Ueckert’s office to avoid having a major complication arise.

Porcelain crowns are quite easy to maintain. Their function and needs are very close to your natural teeth and can be maintained in the same fashion. Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and regular flossing will help to ensure a long lasting porcelain crown.

Contact Us

Dr Ueckert Dentistry
7030 Village Center Drive
Austin, TX 78731

Telephone: 1 (512) 345-3166

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