Do you have a tooth that’s been badly damaged by decay, wear, or trauma? Or perhaps you have a tooth that no longer looks attractive. In either of these cases, a dental crown can help. Dental crowns are a great restorative and cosmetic dentistry option for repairing and beautifying single teeth. They can be used similar to veneers, and are sometimes used in association with them.

Would you like to learn how dental crowns can help your smile? Contact a local lovebites dentist and learn how you can transform your smile and save.

What Are Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns are restorations that fit completely over the visible surface of the tooth. They are also sometimes called dental caps because they fit over the natural tooth like a cap. This might even be a better term because the visible portion of the natural tooth is also called the crown.

Dental crowns can be made from a variety of materials, including:

Metal
Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM)
Ceramic

Metal was the first material used for dental crowns. It is still used in some situations. Dental crowns can be made using either base metal (like stainless steel) or noble metal (like gold). Base metal is usually only used in situations where the underlying tooth isn’t expected to last (such as for baby teeth).

PFM crowns attempt to combine the strength of metal restorations with the beauty of ceramic. With the introduction of advanced ceramic materials that are as strong as metal (and stronger than the fused ceramic), this type of crown is not used very often these days.

Ceramic crowns are made entirely of advanced ceramics, such as lithium silicate (which looks beautiful, but is less strong) or zirconia (which is not as attractive, but is stronger than titanium).

What Can Dental Crowns Do?

Dental crowns can be used in a variety of situations where a tooth is badly damaged and needs the protection and support that a dental crown can give. This includes:

Cracked teeth
Worn teeth
Badly decayed teeth
Teeth after root canal therapy
Teeth with failed fillings

Dental crowns can even be used to replace missing teeth when they:

Support a dental bridge
Top a dental implant

Finally, dental crowns can be used in all the cosmetic situations where we might recommend a veneer, but need more structural support than a veneer can give.

Why Your Dentist Matters

When it comes to dental crowns, your dentist matters, because you need a dentist who can properly assess the need for a dental crown and not give you a filling that will only weaken your tooth. You also need a dentist who can properly prepare the tooth to receive a dental crown–proper shaping of the tooth will make for better dental crown fit, plus greater support for the dental crown.

lovebites recruits some of the best dentists from around the country–and in your area. Use our directory to find a lovebites dentist near you.

Why Your Lab Matters

The dentist is only part of the team that manufactures your dental crown. The dental lab needs to be able to understand the dentist’s instructions and consistently follow them. This will lead to a better color match and more precise fit. In addition, proper manufacturing techniques will help a dental lab provide consistent quality restorations, leading to greater durability for your dental crown.

lovebites has teamed with one of the leading dental labs in the country: Las Vegas Esthetics (LVE). Not only does this lab make quality dental restorations right here in the US, but LVE provides a discount to lovebites dentists, so they can pass the discount on to you!

Contact a lovebites Dentist

Do you need a dental crown but don’t want to pay too much for it? Are you afraid that if you get a discount dental crown, the quality will be poor? lovebites gives you a way to get quality dental restorations at an affordable price. Contact a local lovebites dentist today for an appointment in your area.