Dental Crowns
Green Bay, WI
 Your teeth perform many essential tasks every single day. When your teeth are damaged, not only are these functions affected, your oral health is put in danger. A damaged tooth is at risk for further harm. It could split the tooth, or even shatter it, both situations that put your tooth at risk for an infection. At Bay Lakes Center for Complex Dentistry your oral health is our top priority. When you have a damaged tooth, we can provide it with the support and protection it needs with a dental crown.
What is a Dental Crown?
A crown is essentially a protective cap that covers the entire visible portion of a damaged or otherwise compromised tooth. It holds your tooth together, preventing further damage. It provides a weak tooth with strength. It also protects a damaged tooth from bacterial invasion, preventing a serious infection. Because of these functions, a dental crown allows your damaged tooth to stay in its socket, preventing the need to have the tooth extracted.
What are Dental Crowns Made Of?
Crowns are available in a few different types of materials, each with benefits and drawbacks:
| • |
Metal. Metal crowns, whether gold or silver alloy, have been in use for several decades. Metal is by far the strongest material available for a dental crown. It is practically indestructible and can last 50 years or more. The biggest issue with metal crowns is that, even at the back of your mouth, they are visible.
|
| • |
Porcelain fused to metal. Porcelain fused to metal crowns combine the strength of metal with a more aesthetic exterior. The metal crown is covered in porcelain, which better mimics the color of your natural teeth. However, these crowns often have a faint metal line that gives them away.
|
| • |
Resin. The resin is the most affordable option for a crown. Moreover, while it matches the color of your teeth, it is also the weakest material available and is hardly ever used.
|
| • |
Ceramic. Ceramic is quite possibly the most popular option for crowns. It can be made to perfectly match the color and sheen of your natural teeth, with a wide selection of stains and finishes. It may not be the strongest material, but it is the most natural looking. It is very difficult to tell a ceramic crown from your natural teeth. |
Placement of Your Dental Crown
Dental crowns usually take two visits to complete. During your first visit, we prepare your tooth. We first administer a local anesthetic, which will help with any discomfort you may feel. We then prepare the affected tooth. This process involves trimming, or removing, a portion of your enamel, which creates room for the crown to fit in naturally with the rest of your smile. We then take an impression of your mouth. The impression is sent to our lab, where your crown is designed and created.
Once your crown is finished, it is sent back to us. You then come back in for your second visit. During this visit, we check the crown to ensure that it fits and that it’s comfortable. If everything looks good, we cement it in place.
Benefits of Dental Crowns
Crowns have several benefits:
| • |
Strengthens teeth.
|
| • |
Protection from infection.
|
| • |
Covering a tooth with a large filling.
|
| • |
Covering a tooth following a root canal or surgical endodontics procedure.
|
| • |
Attaching, and anchoring a dental bridge. |
If damage is too significant we may need to look at additional restorative procedures like tooth extractions or bone grafts if the damage has reached the gums or jaw bone.
If your tooth has suffered damage, don’t ignore it, even if it seems insignificant. Call Bay Lakes Center for Complex Dentistry today at (920) 278-7678 to schedule your consultation.
Additional Information:
Inlays and Onlays
|
GREEN BAY (920) 278-7678
