Porcelain Dental Crowns
You probably know about porcelain dental crowns, but what you might not know is that they’re actually a very old idea. As far back as 700 BC, the Etruscans were manufacturing dental crowns out of gold. I guess what that tells you is that dental problems are pretty much as old as mankind, and that crowns have long been used as a means of correcting dental pain and discomfort. It’s not likely that they were used back then for cosmetic purposes, but then, who knows?
Today, of course, dental crowns aren’t usually made of gold. They’re more likely to be created from porcelain, since that’s the material that most closely emulates the natural tooth. The other thing about dental crowns is that they’re not really crowns in the traditional sense. A crown, like the type worn by, for instance, Queen Elizabeth of England, is open on the top. And something that’s open on top isn’t going to really offer a whole lot of protection to a damaged tooth. You could actually consider a dental crown to be something a bit more like a helmet or a hat. It covers a tooth that is worn down, broken, or severely damaged due to decay. It’s a treatment that is restorative in that it brings your tooth back to its original level of function, and it’s also cosmetic in that it restores the appearance of the tooth.
Porcelain dental crowns can be easily installed. If there are decayed areas in the damaged tooth, your Dr. Headley will scrape them away in order to prepare the tooth to receive the crown. Then he will take impressions of your tooth that will be used to create the crown. The scraping is done under general anesthetic, so you won’t feel any pain. Then, once the crown is created, your dentist will cement it in place using a special bonding compound. Once installed, your porcelain dental crowns will work in the same way as your natural teeth, and you’ll care for your crowns in the same way, with regular brushing, flossing and checkups. Keep in mind, though, that even though a crown won’t be vulnerable to decay in the same way as your natural teeth, you still have to brush and floss in order to prevent damage in the gum line or to the adjacent teeth. Bacterial infection is still a possibility.
If you’re in the Overland Park area and are in need of restorative treatment to a damaged tooth, make an appointment with our dentist, Dr. Headley at KC Smile today!. Call 913-491-6874 and see if a porcelain dental crown is the right option for you.
