Dr. Kohler provides dental crowns at our Wilmette practice for both front and rear teeth that have serious damage sufficient to cause structural weakening of the tooth. We fashion dental crowns from modern ceramics to ensure a match with the remaining natural tooth material. Once the crown is secured with a strong dental adhesive, it should last for many years.
The Procedure
Treatment begins with a local anesthetic. Dr. Kohler then removes the unhealthy portion of the tooth and seals the tooth with a special rubber-based substance. Your remaining tooth material is then shaped to create a foundation for the crown, and tooth impressions are taken and sent to our lab so that personalized restorations can be made.
Once your crown is ready, you will return to our office to have it placed. Dr. Kohler will make sure the crown is the right shade, shape, and fit, and will make any adjustments necessary to ensure that it does not interfere with your natural bite pattern. Your crown will be secured in place with a special adhesive, making it immediately functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Am I a Good Candidate?
A person’s original tooth is better than any filling or crown, but a crown may be necessary if the tooth has developed significant decay and the filling needed to restore it is greater than 50% of the functioning tooth.
A tooth may also sustain multiple stress fractures under a filling, which can eventually result in a lost tooth. In the case of multiple stress fractures, a crown can hold a tooth together and protect it for many years.
Types of Dental Crowns
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns can be color-matched to your adjacent teeth (unlike the metallic crowns). However, more wearing to the opposing teeth occurs with this crown type compared with metal or resin crowns. The crown’s porcelain portion can also chip or break off. Next to all-ceramic crowns, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns look most like normal teeth. However, sometimes the metal underlying the crown’s porcelain can show through as a dark line, especially at the gum line and even more so if your gums recede. These crowns can be a good choice for front or back teeth as well as long bridges where the metal is needed for strength.
- All-resin dental crowns are less expensive than other crown types. However, they wear down over time and are more prone to fractures than porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
- All-ceramic or all-porcelain dental crowns provide a better natural color match than any other crown. All-ceramic crowns can be used for front and back teeth.
- Temporary crowns can be made in your dentist’s office, whereas most permanent crowns are typically made in a dental laboratory.