Toothache is probably the most unpleasant in the world. Sooner or later, everyone is faced with her, aching and nasty. But if in some cases everything costs only a little blood - treatment, then sometimes you have to resort to extreme measures - prosthetics. What are the indications for installing dental crowns, what are they and how to choose them correctly?
History of occurrence
People always had problems with teeth, but only relatively recently has the opportunity arisen to mask damaged teeth so skillfully. Until the eighteenth century, from which modern orthopedics counts, dentures also existed, however, they were made from horse or walrus teeth, from the bones of elephants and other large animals. Such dentures were attached to neighboring teeth using gold or silver wire - not the most reliable design, but people had no choice, and therefore the invention was in demand.
Exactly until then, however, as a Frenchman by the name of Fochard did not seriously concern himself with this issue. At the end of the twenties of the eighteenth century, it was he who first came up with putting caps on his broken teeth. Fauchard still made these caps from ivory, but he applied gold to them. Foshar subsequently described all his developments in voluminous work, which later became a landmark for the development of dentistry and orthodontics.
Why do we need crowns?
Indeed, what are dental crowns for? Why can not do with ordinary fillings? Filling the teeth is a good thing, of course, however, if the tooth is thoroughly damaged, then no filling will help him anymore. But after all, the removal, which many patients resort to, is also not a panacea. The use of dental crowns is designed to save a decayed tooth, restore its functions, including chewing, and protect against possible caries. Thanks to the crown, the bone tissue will not be further destroyed, the correct bite will be preserved, in addition, it looks much more aesthetically pleasing with a smile - unlike uneven fragments or a gaping black hole after pulling out.
In what cases crowns are necessary
There are several main reasons when putting a crown is really highly recommended. Firstly, this should be done if the tooth is damaged by more than fifty percent - and this is the only way to save it (tooth extraction is not considered as an option here), especially if the nerve is missing. In this situation, neither the filling nor the tab (in other words, micro prosthetics) will help, as they will not be able to reduce the load when chewing the food that the tooth receives. If the tooth is safe and sound, such pressure does not threaten him, but if it is badly destroyed, he simply can not withstand such an onslaught, it will split, and then there will definitely be no other choice but to eliminate it.
Another reason for installing dental crowns is increased tooth abrasion, often pathological. A similar procedure should be carried out if the patient has periodontitis, or with a high degree of probability they will begin to stagger in the very near future. With a split tooth, a jaw injury, the need to install a bridge, discoloration of the tooth, while removing the interdental spaces - in all these cases, dental crowns are recommended for patients.
Contraindications to installation
If there are indications, then there should be contraindications - a similar logic works in all cases, and dental crowns are no exception. In fairness, it should be noted that for prosthetics they are practically absent: they apply only to pregnant women - they can only have crowns in the second trimester. You can not do this either in the first (the fetus is only being formed), or in the third trimesters, since there is a risk of harming the unborn baby. In addition, crowns are not recommended for poor oral hygiene.
Types of Dental Crowns
Crowns are made from a variety of materials, and depending on this are divided into types. In addition, they differ in functionality - there are supporting structures that contribute to the restoration of chewing ability, and there are restoration prostheses that protect against further destruction. Four types of dental crowns can also be distinguished according to the manufacturing method. The first is stamped crowns, which are a “cap” of a single (any) material. They are quite budgetary and do not require prior tooth removal, however, they have a significant drawback: food debris can penetrate beneath them and destroy enamel. The second is cast crowns, they also consist of one material, but they make them according to the cast of the tooth from plaster. This is the most popular manufacturing method, because it does not require large financial costs, but the product is durable. Such crowns are most often placed on chewing teeth. You can make them both from pure metal and shade it with gold.
The third method is metal crowns, the cheapest and most affordable. They are also quite durable, but do not look too presentable, and therefore inferior to their molten colleagues. They are mainly placed on the side teeth, so as not to shine with a metal fixation with a wide smile (well, unless someone deliberately wants this). Experts note that when installing metal dental crowns in the mouth, an unpleasant aftertaste and a burning sensation may appear. Finally, the fourth type of crowns is combined. This means that they consist of a base metal interspersed with some other material, such as plastic.
Well, now it's time to talk in more detail about the materials from which crowns can be made. After installation, any of them are fixed with special cement for dental crowns. The advantages and disadvantages of each of them are described below.
Metal
Such crowns are pioneers, pioneers - they appeared a very long time ago and have long been considered the best dental crowns. To this day, their indisputable advantage is their relatively low price, in addition, their strength and durability deserve respect: good metal crowns can faithfully serve their owner about fifteen years, which is a very impressive period for dentures. Metal dental crowns are not subject to corrosion, do not have a bad effect on healthy neighbors. They do not suffer from pressure when chewing, they cope with this function perfectly and are quite convenient, however, in addition to advantages, they also have a number of disadvantages. An unaesthetic appearance has already been mentioned, besides this, such crowns are quite difficult to accurately and firmly fit on the tooth, which is why there is a risk of food falling under them.
Metal crowns are made of titanium, steel, gold-plated steel, platinum and so on. In general, they are made either from alloys of precious metals, or by spraying from them. It must be borne in mind that it is impossible to make a crown of several metals at once. Rather, it is possible - but you should not use such a product in any case.
Titanium
Reviews of titanium tooth crowns claim that this species has many more minuses than pluses. Actually, there are only two pluses - the price and the lack of the need to sharpen the tooth strongly. But with regard to the shortcomings, the matter is more serious: titanium crowns wear out quickly, and they do not fit snugly, and they look not so hot. These dentures also do not cope with the chewing function one hundred percent, and many dentists basically do not work with titanium, since it is carcinogenic.
Ceramics
How cheap and ugly titanium crowns, so expensive and attractive ceramic. Ceramics makes it possible to make a prosthesis that is indistinguishable in color from a real tooth, in addition, since such crowns do not oxidize, they are truly the best option for installation on the front teeth. Among other things, they are the most biocompatible and with a good deal are quite durable; however, ceramic crowns, alas, cannot boast of ideal durability. For this reason, they are not too suitable for chewing teeth. But should they also have at least some flaw? By the way, it is ceramic crowns that many Hollywood celebrities set themselves.
China
As you might guess, porcelain crowns are distinguished by a fabulously high price, and this can be considered a significant drawback of this type of prosthesis. Also, the disadvantages of this type of crowns include the inability to install them on a whole row - exclusively on one tooth. In addition, making them a whole problem: this can only be done in those firms where porcelain specialists work. But according to external data, no others can be compared with porcelain crowns.
Gold
Gold dental crowns gained great popularity about twenty years ago. They have many advantages: high compatibility with the human body, the absence of inflammation and / or allergies, inertness, they are not susceptible to corrosion and exclude the development of decay processes. Gold crowns perfectly fit to the gum, accurately reproducing the shape of the tooth, in addition, they perfectly protect the tooth from germs.
Chewing function with such crowns is restored with a bang, and you can use them for quite some time. As for the shortcomings, that is, gold as a material for prostheses and they are a high cost of work.
Plastic
The first thing to remember about plastic dental crowns is that they are not placed for a long time, only for a short period as a temporary replacement. For permanent long wear, plastic prostheses are not suitable - plastic is painted with food. Why do they put such a deputy? This is necessary so that the turned teeth do not come into contact with the external stimulus environment while normal crowns are prepared for them. Plastic prostheses are made quickly, are cheap, look like real healthy teeth. And on this, perhaps, a listing of their merits can be completed.
As for the shortcomings, the list here is not an example longer: the acrylic from which the prostheses are made is a strong allergen; the material darkens with time and from exposure to external factors; porous plastic, which is why infections can get into the oral cavity; plastic crowns wear out quickly. Using such prostheses for more than a year is unacceptable.
Zirconium
Both zirconium and aluminum crowns are the most aesthetic version of dentures. Both of them belong to non-metal crowns from which the gums do not darken, allergies do not appear, and there is no irritation.
Dentures made of zirconium, or rather, made of zirconium dioxide, are particularly durable and resistant, and they can be used up to twenty years! That in the first, that in the twentieth year of operation, the crown looks equally aesthetically pleasing. Another advantage of such a prosthesis is the possibility of repeating the shape of the tooth and, accordingly, a snug fit to it. Zirconium does not cause allergies, which means that even those who have frequent problems in the oral cavity can use it - stomatitis, for example.
Aluminum
These crowns are relatively recent in the dental market, but have already become quite popular. Of course, their price is quite high, but, like their colleagues from zirconium, they are very aesthetic, durable and hypoallergenic. Zirconia yields in strength.
Cermets
These are combined-type crowns (like all of the following). In terms of cost, they do not apply to either the most expensive or the cheapest. The advantages of such prostheses include high environmental friendliness, hypoallergenicity, biocompatibility. Structures made of cermet are lightweight, respectively, a person does not have discomfort when eating. These crowns are both reliable and aesthetic - the inner part, which is invisible to the eye, is made of metal, and the one that is on public display is made of ceramics. You can install these prostheses on any teeth - even the lateral, at least the front ones, which means that a metal-ceramic tooth crown will always remain a priority.
Among the shortcomings, one can note the translucency of the frame during thinning of the gums, as well as the relatively short use - no more than ten years, even with careful use.
Metal plastic
You can start right away with the minuses, and this is fragility in the first place. Due to the presence of plastic, in just two or three years, the prosthesis socks will look completely unpresentable, darken and will need to be replaced. Such crowns, like just plastic ones, are most often used as temporary ones. It is not recommended to use them for more than three years. The advantage of this prosthesis is its low cost.
Metallofarfor
Able to maintain a natural color for a long time without being subjected to any external influences. They are quite expensive and are, unfortunately, not suitable for everyone: such crowns cannot be installed for people with the wrong bite and fragile teeth. In addition, a bridge cannot be made of such material.
How to choose the right
When deciding on the material for the denture, you should first think about where the crown will be located. Chewing teeth require prostheses of greater strength - they withstand the highest load. For front teeth, beauty is more important so that the smile is attractive. Therefore, one cannot say absolutely which dental crowns are better - it depends on many factors. For example, for the front, materials such as ceramics or cermets are ideal, for the side ones - metal, cermet, gold. In general, it is best that the choice is made together with the orthodontist, who can take into account all the wishes and, combining the price, quality and the specific case of a particular patient, is able to choose the most optimal option.
Installation steps
It is important to understand what will happen even before the procedure itself. The process of installing prostheses on the teeth involves several stages. The first is an examination by a doctor and an x-ray. If there is a reason, then the next step is treatment, cleaning, filling and nerve removal. Depilation is generally done quite often with the installation of dental crowns - this reduces the risks.
The next phase is the turning of the tooth, and then the creation of the impression. It is according to this cast that the prosthesis will be made - this is the next stage of the installation. It is impossible to say how much this process will take in time, because everything is individual. But in general, the manufacture of a crown takes from three to fourteen days. When she is ready, the time comes for the next stage - fitting. On it, if necessary, the product is adjusted to fit as perfectly as possible on the gum. And only after all these manipulations is the final phase finally carried out - the installation of the prosthesis in the patient’s oral cavity. To this end, doctors use special glue for dental crowns.
Cost
The cost depends on the types of dental crowns. Prices for them vary from four (approximately) to twenty thousand rubles. So, for example, the cheapest - metal - will cost at least four thousand in a good clinic, approximately the same amount of metal-plastic products will cost. Ceramics will rise to ten thousand, and cermet - at fifteen. At the same level are porcelain prostheses, but zirconium is even more expensive, within twenty thousand rubles. The price of dental crowns may vary slightly depending on the clinic in which the installation takes place.
Pain under the crown
What to do if suddenly a person begins to feel pain under the tooth crowns? And is it possible? Of course available. Most often, this happens due to the development of secondary caries. And it is easily able to appear if the channels have been treated poorly. Also, toothache under the crown can be triggered by the ingestion of pieces of food under the prosthesis and the resulting inflammation. Anyway, if the tooth under the crown gets sick, this is a signal that you need to immediately go to the doctor, remove the prosthesis, fix the problem and re-design. Otherwise, with the greatest probability, the tooth under the crown will be completely destroyed - and then the case will end with its loss.
It’s best to keep your teeth safe and sound, but if you still have a question about the need to install a prosthesis, you should consult your doctor before making any decision. No need to be afraid and in a hurry, because this prosthesis will remain with you for life.