You’re certainly not alone if you should succumb to tooth decay (i.e. cavities). With regular dental care, your general dentist will hopefully catch decay early. However, if you ignore your dental health by not visiting the dentist every six months, not brushing frequently or eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugars, you could end up with worse issues than decay. When cavities are left alone, they can go into the roots of your teeth and require a much more invasive dental restoration procedure. A dental crown is often recommended to provide support to what remains of your tooth structure. If you find yourself in this predicament, what type of dental crown is best for you?
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Dental Crowns
Initially, crowns were made from gold or other strong metals, but somewhere along the way, progress in the development of materials and fabrication meant the worlds of strength and aesthetics could be combined. Blending metal’s strength with porcelain’s aesthetic advantage into one crown, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns were layered for optimal benefits. Unfortunately, in spite of best dental efforts, for many who have sported these crowns, the metal base under the porcelain creates the appearance of a black line at the spot on your gum tissue where the crown ends. This negates the positive aesthetic intentions of the porcelain.
Other Dental Crown Options
To avoid black lines, there are materials such as pressed white porcelain, zirconium, or lithium disilicate crowns. These particular materials provide long lasting durability which may not be quite as strong as metal, but should last with proper care, nonetheless. Unlike crowns in the past that were obvious because of the shiny metal they were made from, modern dental crowns are custom shaded to match your surrounding teeth. Not only do they blend in with the rest of your teeth, but they also reflect light, much like tooth enamel.
ABOUT YOUR LINCOLNSHIRE DENTIST:
Dr. Brent Engelberg and his highly-skilled team proudly serve patients and their families from Arlington Heights, IL, and all surrounding communities, including; Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, and the Northern and Northwest Chicago Suburbs. To learn more, schedule a consultation online, or call our office today at 847-259-8030.
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