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What Is A Dental Crown?
A dental crown is more like a cap that is placed on an irregularly shaped tooth. Scientifically speaking, dental crowns are fixed prosthetic restorations which have an appearance and function the same as that of natural teeth. So, when the tooth structure is compromised, the crown rebuilds the tooth to optimal shape and function. These crowns protect the broken tooth or the worn-out tooth from being damaged further. Fixing a typical dental crown may require multiple appointments or can be even completed in a single appointment provided the required technology is available nearby.
Why is it important to get a dental crown?
When a tooth is damaged either by fracture or cavity, it becomes weak. If the cavity is just filled as usual, the situation can get even worse as the teeth do not have a strong base anymore and this can cause more cracks in the tooth. To avoid this from happening, it is better to go with dental crowns as they shield your weak tooth while functioning as an original tooth. Apart from fracture and cavity, if the irregular tooth is on the visible surface of the jaw while talking or smiling, then it can sometimes cause moments of embarrassment which would not be preferred.
When are dental crowns indicated?
The indicators of dental crowns can be a large cavity, fractured tooth or cosmetic dentistry. A tooth can have an irregular shape either as a defect by birth or due to accidents. Considering fracture of a tooth or cracking, when the tooth is half broken, it does not grow back to its original form. In order to artificially make the cracked tooth appear like a normal one, we can go for dental crowns as they do not just play a role in appearance but also function as a rigid tooth.
Dental crowns are also used in the case of major cavities. Sometimes the tooth with a cavity cannot be treated with usual fillings as they can make the situation worse. The filling remains strong but, when they are not filled properly, they tend to act as a wedge and may break the remaining portion of the tooth when we bite. This can be avoided by using dental crowns as they are placed like moulds or caps on such teeth which can shield them.
Also, the cusp of the tooth (cusp is the pointed projection of the tooth that appears on the biting surface) wears out due to poor hygiene or cavity. In such situations, the condition of the tooth can get even worse if not protected with a dental crown.
Another indicator of a dental crown is when the unsymmetrical teeth structure is in the anterior side of the jaw. This comes under the category of cosmetic dentistry. Most people who look for perfection in their appearance when they talk or smile, make sure that their teeth are properly aligned. They opt for dental crowns to avoid exposure to their uneven teeth structure. The most frequent indication of a dental crown is after a root canal treatment.
What are the benefits of a dental crown?
Everybody wants to have perfectly aligned teeth, but unfortunately, people have unsymmetrical, twisted, or uneven teeth by fault. Also, improper hygiene can make the teeth weak. This makes them insecure to smile or speak confidently. Well, modern dental science is advancing day by day bringing solutions to every problem that occurs in the dental domain. So, hereafter, anyone with an uneven teeth structure can get it corrected using dental crowns. Be it by default or accident or by poor hygiene, we have a solution for all. Dental crowns do not just improve the appearance but also strengthen the weakened tooth.
Different types of dental crown
There are different types of crowns available and the patient is free to choose any of them based on their budget and requirements. They can be listed as
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Metal Dental Crowns
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PFM (Porcelain Fused to Metals) Dental Crowns
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Zirconia Dental Crowns
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Emax Dental Crowns
Emax
Emax is the most aesthetic and natural-looking crown which can make life-like restorations. It uses Lithium Disilicate Glass and this makes it glossy and attractive. It is the best choice for anterior teeth. It has no metal and is purely made of ceramics and can be easily bonded with the tooth even when the tooth is very unfavorable to the whole procedure. Speaking of disadvantages, the crowns can be a little expensive and will not be a good choice for people with dark colored teeth due to their translucency property.
Metal Dental Crowns
Metal has been a great material to choose for dental crowns, especially for the back teeth. Here, the alloy of gold is being used which consists of metals like Chrome, Palladium, Silver, Copper, Platinum, etc which improves the strength thereby making it a suitable metal to withstand the strong forces in the back of the teeth. It offers strength even when it is thin and this helps in minimizing the removal of tooth structure. Gold crowns do have disadvantages like the increasing value of gold making it more expensive, higher conduction towards heating or cooling and also the appearance of colour is not what people prefer these days.
Ceramic Dental Crowns
Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM) crown is where natural white porcelain is stacked on top of a metal. Here the crown has a metal base with a porcelain cover. It looks more like a natural tooth. The benefits here are that it requires lesser technology to build one and it will be available at your regular dentist. They are strong as well as aesthetic but, they also have some disadvantages. The porcelain might wear out after a period of time, which can make the metal base visible if the crown is placed on an anterior tooth. Also, patients would not like any kind of metal being visible or bothering them during their daily routine.
Zirconia Dental Crowns
Zirconia is currently a very popular type of crown known for its strength and aesthetics. It is a white crystalline oxide made from the metal Zirconium. It is white in colour both on the inside as well as outside. It is comparatively stronger than other crowns and it can be easily built by your regular dentist. The disadvantages here are that the zirconia crown is very strong and that is why the placement has to be perfect and also the bite has to be adjusted making sure it does not cause trauma to the tooth. The Zirconia crown can also be coated with a layer of porcelain to make it look more aesthetic and durable.
Emax Dental Crowns
Emax is the most aesthetic and natural-looking crown which can make life-like restorations. It uses Lithium Disilicate Glass and this makes it glossy and attractive. It is the best choice for anterior teeth. It has no metal and is purely made of ceramics and can be easily bonded with the tooth even when the tooth is very unfavorable to the whole procedure. Speaking of disadvantages, the crowns can be a little expensive and will not be a good choice for people with dark-colored teeth due to their translucency property.
Cost of dental crowns in JP Nagar Bangalore
The cost of dental crowns can vary based on its type.
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A gold dental crown is expensive since the metal being used here is gold. The quantity of gold required here is in the range of 4gm to 6gm and the manufacturing cost is additional to it. The approximate cost of a normal metal crown is in between Rs.1,500 to Rs.3000.
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PFM crowns ranges from Rs.1,500 to Rs.4,000 based on the technology used like CAD/CAM.
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Zirconia crown ranges from Rs.4,500 to Rs. 12,000.
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EMAX crown is the tooth-coloured aesthetic crown and its price ranges from Rs.3,500 to Rs.10,000
Which crown is best for you?
If you want an aesthetic crown and you do not want people to recognize it, you should go for EMAX crown or Zirconium crown and this is mainly for the front teeth.
For the back teeth, it is suggested to choose the metal crown or the Zirconium crown due to its strength.