People resort to the installation of crowns most often with various injuries or defects in the dentition. They help save even the most unattractive smile from an aesthetic point of view. Fortunately, the age of crowns "under the gold" is far behind. Today, dentists use other materials in their work. This article provides information on what kind of crowns are on the teeth, how to put them, how much the procedure itself costs.
general information
The crown is a non-removable design that allows you to eliminate all existing defects. Dentures of this kind are used to give the tooth increased strength, restore its shape and size, and also to create resistance to chewing loads.
Very often, crowns are part of one large prosthesis. For example, when several teeth are absent at once and they must be fully compensated by artificial ones. In this case, the entire structure performs the function of support on adjacent teeth.
Does it hurt to place crowns on your teeth? How to put such prostheses? As practice shows, many dental procedures are associated with uncomfortable sensations that are remembered for a lifetime. However, when installing crowns, only the first stage is considered the most unpleasant, when a specialist grinds a tooth. Of course, modern dentistry has all the necessary painkillers, which are actively used in practice.
Despite all the above advantages of such prosthetics, many people have a question about whether to put a crown on a tooth. Below we list the main indications for such a procedure:
- The natural crown is destroyed due to trauma or a developed carious process, but the root itself is preserved and can fulfill its primary function.
- A smile looks unaesthetic due to defects in shape or color of enamel.
- With periodontal diseases, there is sometimes a risk of self-loosening of the teeth. In such a situation, the installation of temporary crowns until the moment of full recovery is recommended.
- There is a pathological abrasion of enamel.
Currently, dentistry can offer several options for dental crowns, which are made of various materials and are characterized by certain properties.
Metal crowns
Which chewing crowns are best placed? Many experts offer metal structures, because they have a lot of advantages, and their cost is relatively low.
This option can be made of various metals. Metal crowns are a classic example of prosthetics and have been used for several decades. The most common option - teeth "in gold".
The main advantages of such crowns are durability, reliability and strength. Elements practically do not undergo the oxidation process, and the index of their abrasion is maximally correlated with natural enamel, therefore antagonist teeth are not damaged during chewing. There is only one drawback of this design - an unaesthetic appearance, therefore, as a rule, it is installed in an area inaccessible to prying eyes.
Ceramic (porcelain) crowns
All-ceramic crowns are recognized as the most aesthetic. They very accurately copy the natural surface of the teeth, without losing the primary properties after many years. What teeth are ceramic crowns placed on? This material is quite brittle, can not withstand prolonged chewing load. That is why such prostheses are installed more often on the front teeth. The main disadvantage of this option is the high cost.
Ceramic-metal crowns
Cermet combines the positive characteristics of metals and porcelain materials. This option is characterized by durability, strength, good aesthetic indicators. The only drawback of this option of prosthetics is the preparation of teeth under the crowns at the installation stage, a high risk of erasing the enamel.
Which option to choose?
When choosing a prosthesis, one should proceed from the indications for the installation of the design, the wishes of the patient, his financial capabilities. Metal crowns are considered a budget option, but in terms of external indicators, they are far from the most aesthetic.
The cermet option is characterized by strength and naturalness, such a prosthesis can be placed on a tooth without first removing the nerve. However, even with the smallest decrease in the gums, a gap may form between the crown itself and the tooth itself. In this case, its metal rim becomes noticeable.
The all-ceramic version is as close as possible to natural teeth. It is distinguished by functional endurance. If the patient's financial possibilities are unlimited, it is recommended to install ceramic crowns on the teeth.
What are the best prostheses from the proposed options? Unfortunately, it is not possible to give a definite answer to this question. Most experts in this area are still inclined to the latter option.
Preparation for prosthetics
The process of preliminary preparation for the installation of the prosthesis consists of several independent stages:
- Determination of the clinical picture and assessment of the oral cavity. The doctor and the patient discuss the amount of intervention, the cost of the crown on the teeth, which is better. A treatment plan is being drawn up.
- If necessary, therapy is carried out for inflammatory diseases of the gums, caries, periodontal disease. All old fillings on the so-called abutment teeth are removed and replaced without fail.
- If the use of cermets is intended, depulpation is prescribed to prevent the development of the inflammatory process.
- Then the doctor prepares the tooth under the crown. This is a rather time-consuming procedure, which involves the removal of hard tissues of a certain thickness using special tools. For the metallic version, 0.3 mm of enamel is sufficient; when using cermet, 2 mm.
- At the next stage, special prints are made using paste. Subsequently, crowns will be made on their basis in the dental laboratory.
- After the creation of the prosthesis, several fittings are assigned, on which you can determine the accuracy of the final design, its convenience for the patient, and matching according to the color palette. Sometimes temporary cement is used to fix the crown. This is necessary so that the patient himself can be convinced of its comfort.
Fixing the crown on the teeth: how to put the prosthesis
- After removal from temporary cement, the doctor conducts a thorough cleaning of the structure.
- Prepared in advance, the dental stump is treated with a special apparatus to give the surface a slight roughness.
- The final fitting is carried out, during which the doctor makes sure the denture is correctly positioned.
- Then begins the direct installation of the crown on the tooth. The doctor applies a certain amount of dental cement to its inner surface. The crown is put on the tooth very carefully. After these manipulations, the structure is irradiated with a special lamp in order to accelerate the hardening process.
- At the final stage, excess cement is removed, since even a small amount of the substance can provoke severe irritation and inflammation in the gums.
- After approximately 60 minutes, a small chewing load can already be given to the installed crown.
Dental crown life and proposed warranty
The service life of well-made crowns is usually 10 years or more. However, in this matter, the quality of initial preparation before prosthetics should be considered in more detail. In most cases, the tooth under the crown is depulped, that is, all nerves are removed and root canals are filled. This is the most vulnerable spot in this procedure.
In 60-70% of cases, the root canals themselves fill poorly, which entails the development of inflammatory complications, the need to re- treat the tooth or even remove it. Chronic inflammation, as a rule, begins to appear after the warranty period (after approximately 1-1.5 years). In foreign clinics, the situation is somewhat different. The guarantee for prosthetics, for example, in Germany is 3-5 years.
Reviews
In general, patients after prosthetics leave exclusively positive reviews. This is possible if the doctor has taken into account all the indications / contraindications before placing crowns on the teeth. What are the best dentures to put? This question also belongs to the competence of the dentist, and the subsequent result is based on it. Particular attention should be paid to high-quality dental treatment at the initial stage, proper fixation (whether the bite was too high / too low).
Thus, in the case of manufacturing technology, the patient can always hope for a positive result. It is important to choose the right clinic where professional specialists work. Unfortunately, today it is not so easy to do. Most private medical institutions are aimed at maximizing profit, often by reducing the quality and cost of materials.
How to care for crowns?
If the so-called single crowns are installed, dental floss, toothpaste and brushes are enough to care for them. In the case of bridges , hygiene difficulties often arise, because they have a special intermediate part, under which bacteria usually accumulate.
In addition to standard hygiene rules, dentists strongly recommend the use of special irrigators. The operation of such an apparatus is based on the creation of a pulsating jet of water under pressure, which is continuously supplied through the nozzle. Thanks to the irrigator, it is possible to clean up areas of the mouth that are difficult to access with a regular brush from accumulated food residues and plaque.
It is advisable to visit the dentist twice a year for preventive purposes to check the condition of the entire structure and the surrounding tissues.
Crowns cost
More expensive ceramic crowns are usually placed on the front teeth. Their cost varies from 10,000 to approximately 15,000 rubles. A ceramic-metal crown for a chewing tooth is cheaper (3,000-4,000 rubles). Of course, the total cost of prosthetics depends on many factors. These include the following: the materials used, the prestige of the clinic, the availability of our own dental laboratory, the qualifications of medical personnel, etc.
Possible complications after prosthetics
After the final fixation of crowns, some patients experience the following complications:
- Prosthetic stomatitis. It develops due to the increased pressure of the prosthesis on the surrounding soft tissue. Pathology causes a violation of blood circulation and the subsequent death of the mucosa at the border of contact with the crown itself.
- Caries. This problem may occur due to poor oral hygiene or if the patient refused to treat teeth at the stage of preparation for prosthetics.
- Crowns can provoke the development of an allergic reaction, which is manifested by a burning sensation in the oral cavity, rashes on the mucous membranes.
- Galvanic syndrome. It develops when there are prostheses in the mouth made of different materials.
The occurrence of any of the above complications requires immediate medical attention. Otherwise, the risk of tooth loss increases. In such situations, as a rule, the doctor removes the crown and performs repeated prosthetics.
Of course, during such a procedure, only the patient can decide which crowns to put on their teeth. Which prostheses (material) are better, can be prompted directly by a specialist. In any case, one should listen to the opinion of the doctor, accurately follow all his recommendations. This is the only way to hope for a positive result and enjoy the job well done.
Conclusion
In this article, we examined as much as possible what kind of crowns are on the teeth, how to put them, and what complications after this procedure can be associated with. In fact, such prostheses are very popular today, because everyone wants to have an attractive smile. Do not be afraid of the installation procedure, whether metal or ceramic crowns. A qualified doctor will be able not only to choose the most suitable prosthetics option, but also perform all the installation work almost painlessly.