Dental crowns are lifelike replicas of teeth’s natural crowns, and they’re a popular way to reinforce and improve a compromised tooth. A dental crown can serve as an effective treatment alone, or be combined with other restorative treatments, such as a dental filling or root canal procedure. In many cases, having a spare replica of your tooth can offer a wealth of benefits, and their effectiveness often makes dental crowns a preferred option over other cosmetic and restorative procedures.
Dental Crown vs. Dental Bonding
Dental bonding, or composite-resin, is a mixture of acrylic and powdered particles similar to glass, which can be tinted to match a tooth’s specific color and bonded to the tooth’s surface. Dr. Wright often recommends bonding for minor cosmetic procedures, or as an alternative to amalgam to create white dental fillings. A dental crown, which caps the entire tooth above the gum line, is crafted from porcelain, which closely resembles a tooth’s natural structure, including enamel’s ability to reflect light. Crowns are also used to protect a tooth from further injury after a composite-resin filling is placed.
Dental Crown vs. Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are made from the same porcelain as dental crowns, but consist of wafer-thin shells that are bonded to the fronts of imperfect teeth. Porcelain veneers can address a wide range of cosmetic issues, and are often included in smile makeover procedures for their ability to conservatively transform patients’ smiles. In cases where a tooth is damaged, Dr. Wright typically recommends a dental crown instead of a veneer, which doesn’t offer the protection that a dental crown offers.
Dental Crown vs. Dental Bridge
If you’ve lost a tooth, you have more choices today to replace it than you may have had a few decades ago. A dental bridge is the conventional prosthetic of choice for replacing a lost tooth. As the name suggests, the device bridges the gap left in your smile by your missing tooth, and consists of a replacement tooth situated between two dental crowns. The crowns are affixed to the remaining teeth adjacent to the gap, called abutment teeth, to secure the prosthetic and restore your ability to bite, chew, and smile with confidence. For most tooth loss patients, Dr. Wright may recommend a dental crown attached to a dental implant rather than a traditional bridge. An implant is surgically inserted into the jawbone, which fuses to the root device’s titanium surface. Once you’ve healed, Dr. Wright can attach a custom-made dental crown to the implant, creating a replacement tooth that mimics your natural tooth’s root-and-crown structure.
About Your Southlake Dentist:
As a native Texan, Dr. Gregory Wright opened his private practice in Southlake, TX in 1992. He is happily accepting new patients from Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, Trophy Club, Colleyville, and all surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Wright, call our office today at (817) 481-7999.
