A crown (cap) encases a damaged tooth to restore it’s strength, appearance, and function. Usually, the crown will be made out of porcelain, which provides a more natural look and feel.

However, some patients may prefer the sturdiness of a metal crown or perhaps a porcelain-and-metal fused crown. Metal dental crowns Tampa are often used on molars and can be cost-effective.

Porcelain

Porcelain crowns are long term restorations that solve a range of issues such as tooth decay, broken teeth, sensitivity and infections. They are fabricated using porcelain, making them highly durable, strong and beautiful. They can last for decades when well cared for. They are also biocompatible, so they don’t cause any allergic reactions.

Depending on the type of porcelain used (ie, Procera or Empress), they can match the colour and translucency of your natural teeth. The crown is made in a dental laboratory, and it is custom-designed to fit your natural tooth. They can be made in a single appointment without the need to take impressions of your tooth.

The only downside of these crowns is that the underlying metal can show through over time. This creates a grey line near the gumline, but it can be avoided by regularly brushing and flossing. Also, the crown can become weaker over time. This is less of a concern with the newer zirconia and eMax Press crowns, which are metal-free.

Gold

Gold remains a classic dental crown material. It has durability, making it ideal for molars that take a beating from chewing and grinding. But porcelain crowns are better suited for front teeth because they match your natural tooth color more closely and look more beautiful than metal. Porcelain-fused-to-gold dental crowns Tampa are a good choice for both types of restorations, as they provide strength and a natural appearance.

Crowns can correct major problems like missing teeth, fractured teeth, or teeth with cracked tooth surfaces. They can also help alleviate unexplained pain from filled back teeth caused by hairline cracks and old fillings.

Most crowns require two visits to complete the treatment. During the first appointment, we’ll prepare your damaged tooth and take impressions for the lab. Then, we’ll fit you with a temporary crown until your permanent crown arrives. The final step involves cementing the crown into place. You’ll enjoy your restored tooth for a decade or more.

Composite Resin

These crowns have a porcelain and metal fusion and offer a good balance of durability and aesthetics. The porcelain surface matches the tooth’s natural color and the metallic underlying structure provides strength. However, they can appear metallic in the gum line and may not be the best choice for visible teeth such as incisors and cuspids.

A composite resin is applied in layers and hardened with a special curing light. This material is also used for direct restorations such as inlays and onlays and can be shaped to resemble a natural tooth. It is not as durable as a traditional crown and can degrade with heavy chewing and grinding or recurrent exposure to high alcohol content drinks such as coffee and red wine.

To prepare a tooth for a composite resin crown, your dentist will isolate the tooth from saliva, roughen it and apply a conditioning liquid to help the bonding materials adhere. Then they’ll use a shade guide to select the appropriate color.

Ceramic

We use'monolithic' crowns (meaning they are solid) made out of Zirconia which are computer designed and milled from a single uniform block on a CAD/CAM machine. These are extremely strong and durable, requiring very little of the natural tooth structure to be removed. However, they do not look as lifelike as the all-ceramic crowns we also offer.

The most lifelike ceramic crowns are made from 'feldspathic' porcelain, which is a translucent material that allows the underlying tooth colour to shine through. We custom layer these in the dental laboratory, which ensures a very high-quality match to your natural bottom teeth ache.

The best way to protect your new dental crowns is to take good care of them. This typically involves brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing once, and avoiding hard foods that can damage or dislodge them. You should also make sure to keep up with your twice-yearly dental cleanings and checkup appointments. Taking this kind of care should help your crowns last for many years.