Are you wondering if dental crowns look like real teeth? Do they seem too good to be true? Lots of people are curious about dental crowns and if they resemble real teeth, especially in the front of your smile. Or is this too good to be true? Dr. Kurt Williams of Central Kansas Dentistry in Ellsworth, KS has the answers.
Table of Contents:
What are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are a common dental restoration used to restore the shape, size, strength and/or appearance of teeth. Ceramic or porcelain crowns are custom-made to blend in with the color of your natural teeth, providing a restoration that strengthens and enhances their size, shape and look.
What Does the Dental Crown Look Like?
A dental crown is an artificial tooth-shaped “cap” that fits over an existing tooth in order to improve its appearance or provide additional support. It covers all visible surfaces of the tooth above the gum line and is usually held in place with special cement. The purpose of a dental crown is to strengthen weakened teeth, protect them from further damage, improve their appearance, and/or hold together parts of a cracked tooth.
Why Would I Need A Dental Crown?
There are several reasons why you may need a dental crown:
• To repair broken or severely worn down teeth;
• To cover discolored or misshapen teeth;
• To replace large fillings when there isn’t enough healthy tooth left; • To cover implants; • To attach bridges; • As part of root canal therapy (to seal off the treated area).
Types Of Dental Crowns:
The material for a dental crown will vary contingent upon its positioning in the mouth and how much money is available to spend. Common materials include porcelain fused to metal (PFM), full gold alloy, zirconia (a strong white ceramic), eMax (a combination between PFM and zirconia) and composite resin (which looks like plastic). Your dentist will help you decide which material best suits your needs based on factors such as cost, aesthetics and durability.
How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
On average, dental crowns may endure for a span ranging from five to fifteen years prior to requiring replacement due to erosion or decay around the edges. However, this varies depending on how well you take care of them – if you brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste along with flossing regularly then they could potentially last even longer. Regular checkups at the dentist are recommended to help detect any possible issues early, so that corrective measures can be taken promptly if needed.
Dental crowns offer a great way to revive your smile’s aesthetic and functionality, but they can also be tailored to blend in seamlessly with the hue of your teeth. Now let’s take a deeper dive into what dental crowns actually look like when put on teeth.
How Do Dental Crowns Look?
Dental crowns are made to resemble genuine teeth, making them fit in seamlessly with the rest of your smile. The material used for the crown is matched to the color of your natural teeth, making it appear as natural as possible. Additionally, modern technology has allowed dentists to create a realistic texture and shine that mimics real teeth.
The shape of the dental crown is also important when considering how it looks. Crowns can be made in any shape or size depending on what best fits into your mouth and matches up with other surrounding teeth. Should a peculiarly shaped tooth or interstice between two incisors exist, a uniquely contoured crown may be necessary to seamlessly occupy the space and provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
When creating a dental crown, dentists use special tools such as molds and waxes to get an exact impression of your existing tooth structure before sending off these impressions to a lab where technicians will fabricate the final product according to specifications provided by your dentist. This process ensures that each individual’s dental crown looks exactly like their own unique set of natural teeth.
Modern materials used for creating dental crowns are incredibly durable yet still lightweight enough to not interfere with normal speech or eating habits while providing protection from further damage due to decay or trauma caused by grinding and clenching one’s jaw at night (bruxism). These materials include porcelain fused metal alloy (PFM), all-ceramic/porcelain restorations, zirconia-based restorations, gold alloy restorations and resin composite restorations which offer excellent strength without compromising aesthetics as they can be easily matched to the color of an individual’s original enamel layer found on top of their natural tooth structure.
How Are Dental Crowns Adhered?
How exactly do these crowns stay in place?
The answer lies in the adhesion process. Before affixing a crown, dentists will take away any decay or harm that has occurred to the tooth over time. Once the decay or damage has been addressed, a powerful dental adhesive is applied to the tooth’s surface prior to crown placement for enhanced security and additional protection. This adhesive helps keep the crown securely attached while also providing an extra layer of protection against further damage.
Once applied, dentists use specialized tools such as curing lights and high-speed drills to harden and shape the cement so that it fits perfectly around each individual tooth’s contours. The goal is for there to be no gaps between where one part ends and another begins – ensuring that everything looks seamless when you smile. After this step is complete, they will then make sure that all edges fit snugly together without causing discomfort before polishing them for a natural finish.
In addition to using adhesives for permanent placement, some dentists may opt for temporary solutions instead if needed – such as using acrylic resin which can easily be removed at any time without damaging either your existing tooth structure or newly placed restoration material underneath it. This method is often used when more complex procedures need to take place before permanent attachment can occur (such as root canal therapy).
Conclusion
Dental crowns are an excellent solution for bringing back your smile and giving you the assurance of a gorgeous grin. They look just like real teeth, and when adhered correctly by an experienced dentist such as Dr. Kurt Williams of Central Kansas Dentistry in Ellsworth, KS, they can last for many years. With proper care and maintenance, dental crowns do they look like real teeth? will remain strong and natural-looking for many years to come.
Are you looking for a solution to make sure your dental crowns look as natural and realistic as possible? At Central Kansas Dentistry we specialize in creating custom-made dental crowns that are designed to fit perfectly into place and match the color of your existing teeth. Our experienced dentists use advanced technology and techniques to ensure that each patient receives beautiful results with their new smile. Schedule an appointment today and let us help you achieve a dazzling smile!