Strength meets sophistication—durable ceramic crowns blend seamlessly for a natural, radiant finish.
Ceramic crowns, like their porcelain counterparts, are used to restore broken, cracked, or worn-down teeth, as a shield for a root canal, to keep dental bridges in place, or to protect dental implants. They may also be used to cover severely misshapen or discolored teeth, or teeth with large fillings in place. Unlike porcelain crowns, ceramic crowns are not only made from varied materials, but they are best served to be used in place of posterior teeth. Like all crowns, they sit atop real, albeit filed down teeth, helping to restore the natural appearance, shape, and structure. Ceramic crowns, made from zirconium dioxide, also carry the advantage of looking most like natural teeth.
As with most dental procedures, the first step involves a good amount of preparation, which includes the filing down of the natural tooth to remove some of the enamel and the taking of impressions (whether physical or digital). From there, a permanent, and custom-fit crown is manufactured. In the meantime, a temporary crown made of resin or acrylic is used as a placeholder. Once the permanent ceramic crown is ready, the temporary crown is removed, the new one is checked for proper fit, and we ensure color and shape match. Next is the bonding process where the crown is adhered to the natural tooth.
Some best practices post-crowning include brushing and flossing daily, the use of toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth to reduce discomfort, and forgoing hard foods like nuts and popcorn kernels, ice, and hard and extra-sticky candy. Using some sort of dental guard if you grind your teeth at night is also recommended. With the new ceramic crown in place, you should feel an improvement in your chewing, and the new crown should last anywhere between 3 and 5 years. Frequent follow-up visits can help avoid some of the pitfalls of crown use, including the loosening and loss of the piece, discoloration, and the general wear and tear that comes naturally.
