The dental crown procedure can help regain your radiant smile with gleaming white and healthy teeth. The installation process is also swift and virtually painless, ensuring minimal disruption to your schedule.

Yet, it's essential to consider the durability and potential side effects. Delve into further details within this enlightening article.

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is an artificial tooth cap designed to restore the shape and function of damaged, broken, or weakened teeth, enhancing both appearance and functionality. 

When fitted, this artificial crown covers the entire surface of the tooth, much like a perfectly fitted cap on your head.

Dental crowns are quite durable. When properly installed and maintained, they can last up to 30 years. However, it's essential to replace a dental crown as soon as cracks or erosion become apparent.

Types of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are made from various materials, allowing you to choose based on your needs, fashion preferences, and budgetary considerations.

1. Metal Crown

Dental technicians utilize several types of metals, including gold, palladium, nickel, and chromium, to craft metal dental crowns. 

Metal crowns boast high durability, with rare occurrences of peeling or fracturing. However, their conspicuous color may affect appearance, making them more suitable for posterior teeth.

2. Porcelain Fused-to-Metal (PFM) Crown

PFM crowns are made of metal coated with porcelain, rendering them robust, long-lasting, and retaining a natural appearance. 

Dentists can match the color of PFM crowns to your natural teeth. However, over time the porcelain coating may chip. Revealing the underlying metal structure. 

Additionally, PFM crowns may gradually wear away your healthy tooth enamel in direct contact.

3. Pressed Ceramic Crown

The foundational structure of pressed ceramic crowns is created by melting ceramic, followed by pressing and oven it at exceptionally high temperatures. 

Once solidified, the ceramic is coated with porcelain to harmonize with your natural tooth shade. However, akin to PFM crowns, the porcelain layer on pressed ceramic crowns may gradually erode over time.

4. All Ceramic Crown

All-ceramic crowns are entirely made of ceramic, from the core structure to the outer layer. They offer excellent aesthetics, closely resembling natural teeth. 

Studies suggest that the best all-ceramic crowns are made of zirconium dioxide, renowned for its strength and durability. 

Additionally, zirconia crown surfaces are smoother, minimizing wear on adjacent natural tooth enamel.

5. All Porcelain Crown

All-porcelain crowns boast similar aesthetics to all-ceramic crowns, closely resembling natural teeth. They also offer considerable longevity, with proper care, the latest models lasting up to 15 years.

6. All Resin Crown

Resin crowns are more affordable than other models but are more prone to breakage due to their fragility. With proper care, these crowns typically last around 3-5 years, making them suitable for temporary use.

7. Same Day Dental Crowns (CEREC)

Unlike other crowns that require multiple days fabrication period, CEREC crowns can be fitted immediately after the consultation session, usually within 2 hours. 

These ceramic-based crowns are crafted using a CAD/CAM (Computer-aided Design and Manufacturing) machine. However, this type cannot be used if your teeth have damage below the gum line.

How to Choose the Best Dental Crown

As you already know, dental crowns are made from various different materials. To determine the most suitable option, your dentist will consider the following factors:

• The location of the tooth.
• Gum tissue position.
• The function of the tooth to be crowned.
• How much of the tooth will be visible when you open your mouth, speak, or smile.
• The amount of remaining natural tooth.
• The color of the teeth around it.

Dental Crown Installation Procedure

To install a dental crown, you typically need to visit the dentist twice. The first visit is for examination, and the second visit is for installation.

1. First Visit

During the initial visit, you may undergo the following procedures:

• Consultation and examination: The dentist will conduct a comprehensive examination, including oral examination and dental x-rays. If there is an infection in the tooth to be crowned, the dentist will address it first, usually with a root canal treatment.
• Selection of crown type: The dentist will assist in selecting the most suitable crown type for you.
• Tooth enamel reshaping: Enamel (the outer layer of the tooth) will be reshaped to accommodate the artificial crown. Local anesthesia will be administered to minimize discomfort.
• Tooth shaping: If necessary, filling material will be used to shape certain parts of your tooth, providing a strong foundation for the crown.
• Making the crown mold: The dentist will use a rubber mold dental or digital dental impression tool to create a mold, ensuring the crown fits perfectly to your tooth.
• Temporary crown placement: While waiting for the final crown to be made (usually takes 2-3 weeks), a temporary crown made of resin or acrylic will be placed.

2. Second Visit

During the second visit, your permanent crown is ready to be installed. The dentist will typically perform the following steps:

• Removing the temporary crown.
• Cleaning of the tooth to be crowned.
• Double-checking the size, shape, and color of the crown.
• Installing the crown using dental adhesive cement.

After the placement is complete, you can resume your daily activities. However, your tooth may feel uncomfortable for a few days.

Healing Process

During the healing process, your tooth may be more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures, and your gums may feel sore and tender. To alleviate these symptoms, your dentist may prescribe pain relievers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Foods to Avoid

After getting a dental crown and successfully recovering, there are still some foods to avoid to minimize the side effects. Foods to avoid to bite include:

• Ice cubes.
• Hard nuts.
• Popcorn with kernels.
• Sticky foods like caramel or taffy.

Side Effects of Dental Crown 

After getting a dental crown, you may experience some side effects, such as:

• Difficulty speaking due to adjusting to the new tooth shape.
• Infection or inflammation.
• Bad breath.
• Sharp edges causing discomfort to gums and tongue.
• Appearance of black lines on the gums.
• Bleeding, especially if you are taking blood thinners.
• Possible allergic reactions (very rare).
• Crown cracking, breaking, or falling off, usually due to imperfect placement.

If you experience any of these side effects, contact your dentist immediately for further examination and treatment. 

Despite the possible side effects, there's no need to worry excessively as the risks can be minimized.

Make sure to get your dental crown placed only at trusted clinics or hospitals. This ensures comprehensive initial consultations and examinations. 

This is also to ensure that dental crown placement is performed by dentists using proper tools. Additionally, remember to maintain good dental hygiene to prevent infections.

If you're considering getting a dental crown, The Sanur can be your first choice.

The Sanur is a Special Economic Zone of Health located in Bali. We have one of the best dental clinics equipped with the latest medical technology and professional dentists to ensure hygienic and safe dental crown placement. 

Supported by a serene environment, complete facilities, and world-class hospitality, your journey to healthy teeth and a radiant smile becomes incredibly comfortable. 

Contact The Sanur now to schedule a consultation and dental crown placement!