A crown is a protective cap or cover for the tooth. A crown is like Captain America’s shield for instance, as it acts as a shield to protect the dental work that was done. It helps to restore teeth that are weak, broken, damaged or decayed.

Crowns are generally made of different materials such as all-metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, all-ceramic or porcelain, or resin. When porcelain is fused with metal, it is stronger and more durable. Gold alloys or base metal alloy provide the best durability and they do not wear out that easily. Porcelain is tooth-shaped in appearance which is infused in a metal shell that fits over the tooth.

 

The two common types of crowns are CEREC Crowns and Traditional Dental Crowns.

 

The custom-made dental crown is widely preferred for treatments in dentistry. Initially, crowns and other types of dental restorations were time-consuming processes that could take long weeks.

 

With advances in dentistry such as the CEREC®, the treatment time has significantly minimized. CEREC® is the short form for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. A method devised by CAD/CAM dentistry for making dental restorations has been used by dentists worldwide since 1987. They consist of the solid block of ceramic or resin materials. During the CEREC® process, dentists are able to insert individual ceramic restorations in a single sitting.

CEREC® crowns are made with the help of computer imaging technology; the new tooth created will be a perfect fit for the mouth. Also, its color is similar to the color of the rest of the teeth which is why it is the most frequently sought method for the front teeth. Since the crown is made of solid block material, it is viewed as a more stronger option than crowns. They look just like the rest of the teeth in the mouth.

 

In the case of traditional dental crowns, they do not resemble with the natural tooth making its existence evident to others. Porcelain fused to metal does give a slightly natural look. But porcelain can chip and break, and at times the metal is visible at the bottom of the tooth. Resin crowns are cheaper but the material tends to fracture, increasing future maintenance costs.

 A porcelain crown has a lifespan of about 10-15 years with proper oral care. Although, it is possible, that some crowns may last up to 30 years.