There are many restorative and cosmetic dental services that can help reshape and rehabilitate your smile. Dental crowns are a popular choice for their many benefits and attractive appearance. If you would like to know more about dental crowns, keep reading.

What Types of Dental Crowns Exist?

Dental crowns are made from a multitude of materials, including:

• Composite resin
• Metal
• Porcelain

Composite resin and porcelain crowns look white, but porcelain does a better job of capturing the translucent appearance of teeth. Alternatively, composite resin crowns are much cheaper than porcelain crowns.

Many patients shy away from metal crowns unless they want a unique smile. However, metal crowns are incredibly durable, and your insurance often covers some of the cost because they are usually considered medically necessary.

Who Should Consider a Dental Crown?

Above all, dental crowns help strengthen weak teeth. This reduces the risk of tooth loss in the future from the tooth crown chipping, cracking, or fully shattering. If you have weak teeth from lots of decay, dental fillings, root canal treatment, or trauma, you may benefit from a dental crown.

Dental crowns replace your tooth's exterior, for this reason, they may also be able to better withstand decay. Similarly, because they cover the teeth, they can hide many imperfections, including:

• Mild damage like cracks and chips
• Stubborn discoloration
• Mild gapping/crowding
• Uneven crown length

How Do You Care for a Dental Crown?

Dental crowns can't succumb to decay like tooth tissue. However, you still need to care for them. Luckily, caring for your dental crowns is as easy as continuing to practice good oral hygiene habits like brushing and flossing, especially along the gumline. The gumline is a vulnerable spot because if your gums recede, decay can get under the crown and destroy the tooth.

You may also want to adjust some of the food you consume. Stay away from extremely chewy candy as it may dislodge the crowns, especially if you haven't been brushing and flossing properly. Hard candies, ice, etc. may also chip or crack the crown.

What About Same-Day Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns can take a long time because the lab needs to craft them. However, many dentists offer CEREC technology. This allows them to print porcelain crowns in the office, so you can get your permanent crown immediately.

Dental crowns are a great way to boost your smile and improve its overall strength. They are durable and fix many cosmetic concerns. If you would like to know more about dental crowns, contact a professional like Hurley Nicholas J DDS PA.