• 09 MAR 16
    • 0

    What Makes the Difference Between a Good Crown and an Ill-Fitting Crown?

    What Makes the Difference Between a Good Crown and an Ill-Fitting CrownDental restoration comes in several forms, one of which is the dental crown. Do you think you might need a crown to restore one of your teeth? It’s essential to choose an experienced dental team to design and install a crown that fits well and looks great.

    Our team at Evanson DDS is experienced offering dental crown restorations to patients with damaged teeth. We can even replace ill-fitting crowns if an inexperienced dentist did a poor job fitting your crown. Learn more about the procedure before you schedule your appointment.

    What is a Dental Crown?

    A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that fits over a damaged tooth, mimicking the appearance, strength and function of an undamaged tooth. Once cemented in place, dental crowns completely encase the tooth and become a permanent fixture in your mouth.

    Crowns come in several forms, including:

    • Stainless steel, a temporary material until a permanent crown can be made
    • Gold or other base-metal alloy for out-of-sight molars
    • Porcelain fused to metal for better color matching
    • All-ceramic or all-porcelain for good color matching and suitability for people with metal allergies
    • All-resin as a more affordable, but less durable, option

    When is a Crown Needed?

    Dr. Evanson may recommend a crown in the following situations:

    • A tooth has cracked or been weakened from decay and needs to be protected.
    • A broken or severely worn down tooth needs to be restored.
    • A tooth with a large filling needs extra support.
    • A discolored or misshapen tooth needs to be covered for aesthetic purposes.
    • A dental bridge needs to be anchored to replace a missing tooth.
    • A dental implant needs to be covered.

    Children can also be fitted for crowns (usually made of stainless steel) on their baby teeth in the following cases:

    • To save a tooth has been damaged by decay and can’t support a filling.
    • To protect teeth that are at high risk for decay, such as when a child has difficulty maintaining good oral habits.

    What Characterizes a Good Crown?

    When you have a crown made, you want a perfect fit. These are the characteristics to look for:

    • Proper contour against adjacent teeth for comfort and decreased chance of food impaction.
    • Good emerging angle from the gums for aesthetic reasons.
    • Good contact between adjacent and opposing teeth for a comfortable bite.
    • Good color matching so the crown blends in.

    What Characterizes a Bad Crown?

    Sometimes, dentists and technicians make mistakes and end up fitting you with a bad crown. You know you have an ill-fitting crown if you face these problems:

    • Improper fit, resulting in tooth sensitivity, recurrent tooth decay and quick failure of the crown.
    • Over-contoured crown, resulting in gum inflammation and gum disease.
    • Loose crown, also resulting in gum inflammation and gum disease.
    • Too tight of a fit between adjacent teeth, resulting in toothaches.
    • No contact with adjacent teeth, resulting in food impaction and recurrent tooth decay.
    • Poor aesthetic appearance in terms of color or shape.

    Why Do Bad Crowns Happen?

    If everyone knows the qualities of good crowns, why aren’t they all made properly? The fact is making good crowns requires a high level of skill, experience, and communication between dentists and dental technicians. A good crown and an ill-fitting one may differ very slightly. Just a few millimeters of over- or under-trimming can change your bite or the level of contact with adjacent teeth.

    This is why it’s so important to choose a dentist with the skills and experience necessary to fit you with a good crown. With years of training and state-of-the-art equipment at their disposal, the team at Evanson DDS is well equipped to handle all your dental crown needs. Please contact us online or call (720) 409-0008 to schedule your appointment.

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