A dental crown, sometimes called a cap, is a restoration that completely covers your natural tooth. It can only be done on a tooth with a healthy root. There are several reasons to need a crown: a broken tooth, a cavity that would require too large a filling, an infection requiring a root canal treatment, or a tooth that is vulnerable to cracking.
What are all-porcelain crowns?
In years past, dental crowns had to be fused to a metal foundation in order to be strong enough. Though that gives you a functional restoration, it won’t look beautiful or natural. In order for the metal foundation to be concealed, the crown is made a little opaque. There is also the problem of a black line that will eventually appear at your gumline where your crown and tooth meet. This won’t be visible at first, but after some time passes the gum will pull up and you’ll have a noticeable dark line.
Fortunately, technology has improved enough that we can now place all-porcelain crowns on your front teeth that are strong enough to no longer need a metal foundation. This gives some esthetic advantages.
- All-porcelain crowns have the same translucency as your natural teeth. You won’t need an opaquer like the porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. The porcelain reflects light, giving it a natural brilliancy.
- There will not be a dark line at your gumline, no matter how long you have the crown.
There are some disadvantages, too. Not all dentists are trained to do all-porcelain crowns. They require a special bonding technology that requires some post-graduate training. They are also a little more expensive than the porcelain-fused-to-metal, though many patients feel having a natural-looking smile is worth the added expense. Below you can see a comparison between all-porcelain and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
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| before libertyville porcelain crowns | After Libertyville porcelain crowns |
If you’d like to see if you’re a candidate for all-porcelain crowns, you may contact our office by phone for a complimentary consultation at (847) 362-6540. You’ll get time with the hygienist as well as 10-15 minutes with Dr. Potts to ask any questions. If you prefer, you may click here to request an appointment online. Please indicate if you’re requesting a complimentary consultation.