While you may think of fillings as being the only way to correct and fill cavities and other small chips and cracks in teeth, porcelain crowns are another great option that many dental professionals use to create a beautiful, natural-looking smile.
A crown is a cover that is placed over a tooth that has been broken or damaged from decay. A good porcelain crown can look just like a natural tooth in its size, color and position. In fact, crowns are created so precisely that some can even be used to solve minor aesthetic problems of the teeth, such as moderate-sized gaps between the teeth.
Consider these top reasons why you might want a crown or why we may recommend a dental crown for your teeth:
• To repair a chipped or broken tooth
• To use in place of a filling in a very worn-down tooth
• To repair a tooth to its natural shape and color
• To be placed over an implant or used with a bridge
• To make a tooth stronger
• To make aesthetic changes
Although there are several good options when it comes to materials for crowns, we prefer porcelain crowns because they can be made to match the color of your teeth exactly and typically look the most natural. Nobody wants to smile and have a metal crown seen in the mouth. In addition, these are typically stronger than resin crowns are. Porcelain crowns are different from veneers in that they are designed to cover the entire tooth rather than just the front of the tooth. Plus, they are thicker and less likely to be cracked or damaged when compared with veneers.
Porcelain dental crowns are very durable and most last up to 10 to 15 years. Of course, the better you take care of them, the longer they will last. With your crown, not only will you be proud of your smile once again, but also you will find that you will be able to speak, smile, bite and chew just as you used to without having to worry about your teeth getting in the way.
If you are embarrassed by your teeth or are dealing with major tooth decay, set up a time to visit the office of Dr. Latha Subramanian, DDS in Mountain View. Contact us today to book a dental appointment!
