Metal-Free Crowns
The Purpose of a Dental Crown
Most dentistry looks like dentistry. At DaVinci Dental, our goal is to provide dentistry that is undetectable. We replace existing crowns and fillings with restorations that look and feel like your natural teeth. Crown and bridgework are very reliable, long-term solutions for major dental problems caused through accidents, diseases or wear and tear.
Many people have unexplained pain from filled back teeth, which is usually due to hairline cracks in the chewing part of the tooth. Placing crowns on these teeth relieves the pain and allows a return of full dental function for these teeth. In front teeth, older fillings can both weaken the teeth and cause “appearance” problems due to staining or chipping. Crowns and bridges are suitable in cases where porcelain veneers are not. In teeth with root canal fillings, crowns can prevent breakage.
Improved methods allow us to offer crowns that are metal free. Many patients suffer with graying or unnatural looking crowns due to the use of metal as the core of the crown. At DaVinci Dental, we now provide both All-ceramic Crowns and Zirconia Crowns. We are renowned for the quality of our work and the fantastic changes we make for people using this technology. These treatments are used for a long-lasting correction of major dental problems. It is usual for these treatments to last for 20 to 30 years, which is as close to permanent as dental treatment can get.
How long does it take to fit a dental crown?
Fitting a crown requires at least two visits to our office. Initially, we will remove decay, shape the tooth, and fit it with a temporary crown of either plastic or metal.
On the subsequent visit we will remove the temporary crown, and then fit and adjust the final crown. Finally, we will cement the crown into place and you have a new beautiful looking tooth.
Key Benefits of Dental Crowns
- Replaces missing teeth
- Offers support to misshapen teeth or badly broken teeth
- Looks completely natural
- Fixes “smile” and functional chewing problems
All-Ceramic Crowns
Crowns of the past, most often, consisted of a metal core with porcelain fused on top. As years passed, patients began to discover that the metal core of the crown often bled through the outer white porcelain casing, creating an unnatural gray looking tooth. In addition, these types of porcelain crowns were opaque and did not let light pass through in the same way your natural teeth do. Over time, the porcelain would wear down and unattractive gray line would appear at the edge of the tooth near the gum line. Crowns of the future no longer require a metal post. The newest technology includes crowns made entirely of pressed ceramic.
All-ceramic crowns, like IPS e.max Dental Crowns, do not require any metal framework. You will never see your all-ceramic crown begin to change colors. In fact, these crowns are considered to be a perfect match against the backdrop of your natural teeth. The transparent color, light reflection and lifelike shape create the ideal restoration. The ceramic used to create the crown is a very high-grade material, which has been harvested for its toughness and durability. Because the crown is made of one block of pressed ceramic, it is strong, long lasting and unlikely to crack or fracture as compared to many other types of crowns.
Our patients no longer have to compromise when it comes to the esthetic look of their restorations. At DaVinci Dental, you will never have to worry about your crowns looking unnatural. With the use of all-ceramic crowns and a variety of other cutting edge techniques, our dentists can turn your problematic smile into a picture of long-lasting health and beauty.
Zirconia Crowns
Zirconia is a newer material that has shown great promise in dentistry.
In the past, the traditional method of developing crowns consisted of a metal core with porcelain fused on top. However, porcelain is susceptible to breakage and chipping, especially on your back molars. Zirconia crowns are made entirely of one substance; Zirconia, which has the strength of metal and can withstand the natural, intense pressure of the biting and grinding that occur naturally in your mouth. Zirconia, which is also known as ceramic steel, is incredibly hard. It will not deteriorate over time and, in fact, is used in hip replacement surgery.
Due to their metal cores, traditional crowns often appear opaque and not aesthetically pleasing. Over time, porcelain-fused metal crowns corrode and produce a black gum line as a result. Crowns made entirely with Zirconia, like BruxZir Solid Zirconia Crowns are the same color inside and out, and mimic the translucency of your natural surrounding teeth.
Some resources are calling Zirconia crowns “The Non-Allergic Crown” and claim Zirconia is “biocompatible” because the body does not reject it. Unlike the silver (amalgam) fillings and metal alloys of the past, the human body accepts Zirconium. Zirconia is a natural material, so the threat of allergy or adverse reaction is minimal. Additionally, the unpleasant side effect of temperature sensitivity as a result of the electrical conductivity of silver fittings is not a problem with Zirconia.