What Are Ceramic Crowns?

Ceramic crowns are one of the options you get to choose from when a dentist says you need a cap. Crowns are dental restorations that go over the part of a tooth that is visible above the surface. The restoration protects the tooth from things that can damage it in the mouth like acids produced by oral bacteria.

Crowns are cemented on the teeth that are being worked on, and they restore its appearance, strength and function. Reasons a dentist might recommend a ceramic crown include:

• A tooth that has been weakened by tooth decay. The crown can hold it together, preventing the tooth from breaking into multiple pieces
• A broken or severely worn down tooth
• A tooth that has been restored with a large filling
• To anchor down dental bridges
• To restore the aesthetics of a badly-stained or otherwise discolored tooth
• As an artificial tooth for a dental implant
• To improve the appearance of a poorly-shaped tooth
• To protect a tooth that has been repaired with a root canal
• To protect a tooth that is vulnerable to decay

Why choose ceramic crowns?

Crowns can be made from other materials besides ceramics. These include:

• Gold
• Porcelain fused with metal
• Composite resins
• Metal alloys

A ceramic crown is a restoration whose entire thickness is made from glass-like ceramics like porcelain. The reasons why an increasing number of people are picking ceramic crowns over other materials include:

• Great aesthetics: Ceramic crowns are the closest thing to a real tooth. The glassy materials used to make these restorations give them a glistening, glossy, shine just like a real tooth. They reflect light similarly to the way real teeth do. The thicker a ceramic crown is, the more it looks like a normal tooth
• More convenient: Ceramic crowns are made in labs like any other dental restoration, but they can also be made at the clinic. A dentist that is equipped with CEREC® technology can make dental restorations at their clinic with a machine that mills it out of solid ceramic blocks. It helps to avoid having to take two trips to the dentist to get a cap
• Biocompatible: Ceramics are biocompatible, so there is a lower risk that the patient's body will have an adverse reaction to the prosthetic. These restorations are also less abrasive to opposing teeth than crowns made of metal alloys or porcelain fused with metal

What to expect when getting a ceramic crown

Once the dentist determines a crown is the right answer for the patient's issues, the tooth will be prepared for the restoration. Portions of enamel might be removed to make room for the crown. An impression or 3D image of the patient's teeth is then taken. This information is sent to a lab where the prosthetic is made or to a computer interface of a CEREC machine.

The crown is cemented in place once it is ready. It can take up two weeks if it is being made in a lab. If CEREC is available, the entire process occurs during a single visit.

Thinking about a ceramic crown?

Stop by our Miami office to find out if a ceramic crown is right for you.

Request an appointment here: https://www.southfloridadentalarts.com or call South Florida Dental Arts at (305) 230-4041 for an appointment in our Miami office.

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