Porcelain Crowns: Are They Really Necessary?

By Arthur Kezian

You have already scheduled your appointment for the root canal to take care of those pesky cavities, now you need to decide whether or not you need porcelain crowns. Often dental insurance does not cover this more expensive procedure so before you pay extra you need to learn about the benefits and pluses over less costly alternatives.

Dr. Kezian understands that a well educated patient is a happier patient.  Here are the basics to get you started:

What are dental crowns anyway?

Once you have a tooth cavity severe enough to damage the dental pulp or core of the tooth, conservative management is no longer a good option.  Treatment choices include tooth extraction or a root canal. Generally people want to hold onto their own natural teeth, so choose the root canal option.  Your dentist will essentially scrape out the debris within the cavity.  This weakens your tooth, making it more prone to fracture or breaking.  Here’s where a dental crown comes in!

A dental crown is like a hat or cap that is placed over the tooth.  This protects the tooth’s shape and strength.  To keep the crown in place, a cement is used.  Importantly, the crown is fully visible.  The choices for crown material are metal or porcelain.  Metal is cheaper but not as cosmetically pleasing! Metal crowns are sturdier but best reserved for out of sight teeth like molars.

Porcelain, while more expensive, is essentially the color of enamel and therefore a more aesthetically pleasing.  Porcelain crowns are also a good choice for those who suffer from metal allergies.

What problems can occur with crowns?

You may be asking yourself, what can go wrong?  Not much if you are in the good hands of an experienced dentist.  Sometimes a person with a newly crowned tooth, may experience heat or cold sensitivity.  Switching to a toothpaste specially formulated for sensitive teeth will likely do the trick.  If the cement used wears off, the crown can fall off.  One drawback of porcelain crowns over metal crowns is that porcelain as a material is more prone to chipping.  If the chip is small a sealant similar in color to the crown can patch it.

How long will my new crown last?

It’s tough to predict how long a crown will last.  On average, expect your crowns to last anywhere between five to fifteen years.  Factors that influence the longevity of dental crowns are similar to those that put you at risk for dental caries in the first place such as oral hygiene, diet, smoking and whether or not you grind your teeth.

How to I take care of my crown?

Crowns really do not require special care in specif.  Underneath the crown is still a living tooth that is at risk from further cavity formation and gum disease.  So basically, ramping up your oral hygiene practices is the sure-fire way to protecting your new porcelain crowns.

Dr. Kezian will gladly meet with you to discuss dental crown options and treatment choices that are best for your specific needs.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 

-N.S.