Why Might Patients Need Dental Crowns?
Austin, Texas, area patients who have large metal or tooth-colored fillings, cavities, or fractured teeth may be advised by their dentist that they could benefit from placing a dental crown. Porcelain crowns or veneers are the most esthetic option for anterior restorations.
Dental crowns are just one of many dental restorations used by our team at Greenbelt Dental Health to help patients strengthen damaged teeth or protect the natural tooth from further problems. They not only seal the tooth but provide protection, whereas fillings just seal the tooth. Dr. Naranjo tries to be as conservative as possible when considering a crown for a tooth. Partial crowns known as an inlay or onlay may be suggested to provide the best long term solution while conserving the most tooth structure. The solution is always with the future in mind and to have the best long term outcome.
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a restoration custom fabricated to be placed over a natural tooth. It covers all the exposed portions above the gum line for complete protection. Our team uses porcelain as it is a material known for its close resemblance to natural tooth enamel and its strength. When patients properly care for their dental crowns, they can expect to maintain them for many years.
Might Other Materials Be Used for Dental Restorations?
Our team believes in the use of metal-free options whenever possible. However, gold is an exception for some of our patients. Gold is extremely biocompatible and can produce some of the longest-lasting restorations due to the strength characteristics seen with this material. In situations where both the patient and doctor decide that gold is the best option for their dental crown, a custom crown is ordered and made by our dental lab ceramist to create a long-lasting, durable crown with the highest gold content possible. We often don’t use gold for front tooth crowns and instead use full ceramic crowns when the tooth being repaired is extremely visible.
Dr. Christopher Naranjo is Board-certified in Texas, and has been providing dental care for the Austin community for the past six years, helping patients to confidently choose the dental treatment that will best suit their long-term needs.