A dental crown (cap) is a restoration that covers a tooth, restoring it to its normal size and shape, while strengthening and improving its appearance. A crown is necessary when a tooth is broken to the point where a filling will not be effective. A dental crown can be used for various reasons, including covering discolored or misshapen teeth, or restoring a broken tooth. It may also be used in conjunction with bridges and dental implants. A porcelain crown is made entirely of porcelain.

Benefits Of Porcelain Crowns

A major advantage of porcelain crowns is that they are created to look exactly like, or even better than, the teeth they are replacing. They are available in a wide variety of shades in order to perfectly match them to existing teeth. Extremely natural-looking, it is rarely noticeable that they have been used. Because they are the most cosmetically attractive type of replacement, they are commonly used for the front teeth.

Porcelain crowns are also a good choice for anyone with a metal allergy. Because they contain no metal at all, the wearer should experience no adverse reactions.

Care Of Porcelain Crowns

Porcelain crowns are generally durable and long-lasting, and require no more care than natural teeth. In some cases, a patient who grinds her or his teeth during sleep may require a custom mouth guard to prevent excess pressure from causing a crown to crack.

A dentist should be consulted to see if a porcelain crown is an option for a particular condition.

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Additional Resources

• Mouth Healthy
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
• Medline Plus
• National Institutes of Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
• WebMD