Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain crowns are dental restorations
that are placed over a tooth when conservative restorations are insufficient to restore form and function. There are a number of reasons why you may need a porcelain crown. Everything from large, old silver fillings, cracks or fractures within the tooth, exposed and worn enamel caused by grinding, previous root canal treatment, new cavities, or even biting trauma can lead to significant flaws in the tooth surface. When a large portion of the tooth is affected a full coverage porcelain crown can protect and repair the tooth.
In the past, the only durable, long-term crowns were made from a metal foundation with porcelain layered on top of the metal (called porcelain fused to metal crowns—or PFM crowns for short). This often resulted in an unattractive line at the gum line, or the crown just didn’t look like a real tooth.
Today, we can artfully design porcelain crowns that match the color and shape of your teeth. Porcelain crowns are made from solid blocks of porcelain ceramics and are bonded directly to the remaining tooth structure. These new crowns are stronger than PFM crowns and can be sculpted to recreate the natural function and look of the tooth.
