A beautiful, healthy, and functional smile is what everyone wants. When dental concerns arise, though, it is important to resolve them without delay to maintain the integrity of your smile. When your teeth chip, crack, break, or develop stains that cannot be treated with conventional whitening methods, dental crowns may be considered.
Our dentist at Summit Dental Group can fix dental concerns like teeth chippings, cracks, breaks, discolorations, weakened teeth, or misshapen teeth using porcelain crowns. Further, patients receiving dental implants may also receive dental crowns.
What Are Porcelain Crowns?
Also referred to as all-ceramic crowns, porcelain crowns are thin dental shells that cover a tooth to strengthen it, provide protection, and prevent additional damage. They also work to revamp tooth appearance.
Porcelain crowns resemble the look of the enamel. Dentists fabricate these crowns in a lab and then mount them on teeth before cementing them in place. Porcelain crowns can be color-matched with the existing shade of the other teeth, which gives a natural-looking smile.
Porcelain Crowns Placement Procedure
Several steps are involved when placing porcelain crowns. Preparation of the tooth being crowned is done first. Our dentist removes sections of the enamel by filing it down. This creates room for the new crown to fit properly and remain securely bonded.
After the tooth is prepared, dental impressions are taken. The impressions create models for crafting your customized dental crowns. We mount temporary crowns on the prepped tooth (or multiple teeth) as the final crowns are being crafted. The temporary crowns may be constructed from resin or acrylic materials.
At your next appointment, we will unglue and remove the temporary crowns. We place the new, lasting crowns and check their shape, fit, and color to see that they align with that of other teeth. Thereafter, we bond the final crown to the tooth with a dental adhesive or cement.
How Strong Are Porcelain Crowns?
Porcelain crowns are made to serve you for years to come. These crowns are strong, but that does not mean they are indestructible. Materials like ceramic and porcelain may sound delicate. However, they are just as sturdy and strong as natural teeth where biting and chewing forces are exerted.
In fact, zirconia crowns are considered more durable and stronger than natural tooth enamel. Even so, accidental impact to porcelain or zirconia crowns can still damage them. For normal oral functions, porcelain crowns are strong enough to withstand chewing and biting forces.
It is prudent to avoid anything that brings unbearable force to these restorations. Whether you have a crown or not, you should never use your teeth as bottle openers or bite into extremely hard things. Proper care is needed, including brushing and flossing, to keep your crowns functioning properly.
How Long Do Porcelain Crowns Last?
Many factors influence the longevity of your dental crowns, including oral habits like grinding and clenching of teeth, biting on hard things, and regular oral hygiene. If you take care of your smile by brushing and flossing and proactively protecting your teeth against trauma or physical damage, then crowns can last over a decade. On average, porcelain crowns can last 10 to 15 years without needing replacement.
To find out more about porcelain crowns, visit us at Summit Dental Group or dial 260-297-7081 to set up an appointment.
