Dental implants can make a smile look fabulous – I know I have them. However, if you are just thinking about getting them, you may have a lot of questions. You may be wondering how smoking affects implants, whether or not wine will stain them, if they can be whitened or other concerns. I also know from experience that it can be intimidating to ask some of these questions to your dentist. In my dental implant blog, I am going to answer the questions that can be hard to ask. I hope you find the info you need in this blog and that it guides you to the right decision about dental implants. Thanks for reading!
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Questions Many Dental Patients Have About Dental Crowns
Isobel Berry
Dental crowns can be a good choice for a tooth when your dentist cannot address damage with a standard filling and other such work. If your dentist has suggested a dental crown for you, note a few questions you might have about this treatment and then discuss this option with him or her.
Are crowns permanent?
Crowns are cemented over your own tooth or a dental implant; they are durable but not necessarily permanent, as they may eventually chip, crack, or otherwise fall off. However, they are made to last for many years, if not indefinitely. The longevity of a crown will depend on the quality of the dental work as well as how you take care of the crown; if you eat harden foods like nuts and seeds, this can put pressure on the crown and it may crack after many years. If you're ever in a car accident, suffer a fall, or take up boxing, this may also put your crown at risk. You shouldn't worry about the crown just falling out, but have it checked at your regular dental visits for any type of damage or wear and to note if you should then have it replaced.
Are crowns only used for cosmetic purposes?
A crown can be put over a very small tooth or one that is out of alignment, to make it look more natural and properly aligned with other teeth. A tooth that has suffered enamel erosion so that it's discoloured can also be covered by a crown; however, a crown can cover a tooth that has severe cavities that cannot be filled with regular filler. It can also cover a weakened tooth, such as those that are decayed on the inside and which may be at risk for breaking, and not just teeth that don't look their best.
Are crowns made of metal?
You might assume a crown is made of metal because of the word "crown," or may have heard of a friend getting a metal crown. Stainless steel crowns are often only temporary, meant to be replaced with a permanent crown made of porcelain; metal crowns may be used for a few days while your permanent crown is being shaped and formed by a specialist. Stainless steel crowns are not made to such exacting standards as porcelain crowns and can be fabricated more quickly than porcelain material, which is why they're meant to be temporary and eventually replaced with the more attractive and safer porcelain material.
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