What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a protective covering or “cap” that your family dentist affixes onto a damaged tooth which strengthens the tooth, protects exposed nerves and may also improve tooth alignment and the appearance of the mouth. A dental crown may also be used to anchor a dental bridge in place.

Types of Dental Crowns

• Temporary Crown:

Your dentist may place a temporary crown on the tooth while the permanent crown is being built. These are often comprised of acrylic resin.

• Ceramic Crown:

Ceramic or porcelain crowns are generally used for restoring front teeth. This material is easiest to blend with your natural tooth color. Lithium disilicate restorations are among the most aesthetically-pleasing ceramic crowns.

• Porcelain-Fused to Metal Crown:

This durable crown provides a stronger bond than ceramic porcelain alone because the porcelain is affixed to a metal substructure.

• Metal Crowns:

These crowns are quite durable and are comprised of metals that are resistant to corrosion and can be used when the damage to the tooth is severe. For example, a gold alloy crown may be a mix of gold, copper and other metals. It provides a strong bond to the tooth, but doesn’t erode the underlying tooth. Zirconia-based crowns have superior strength.

There is no single type of crown that is always “best.” There are different circumstances in which each of these types of crowns work well, and we will discuss this in more detail in upcoming blogs.

Dr. Keith Phillips constantly updates his techniques, material and equipment to ensure his patients receive cutting-edge dental care. This attention to detail and innovation is part of the reason Dr. Phillips was named “Top Dentist” in Prosthodontics by SeattleMet for the last 8 years. In addition to being a contributing author of “Implant Aesthetics” he is also a former Associate Editor for the Journal of the American Dental Association and is an Affiliate Associate Professor at the University of Washington, the University of Southern California, and the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Phillips serves patients at Distinctive Dentistry, which is located in Tacoma, WA.