What is a Full Coverage Crown?
There are many dental restorations that are used to restore fractured or decayed teeth, such as fillings or onlays, and dental crowns. Full coverage, dental crowns are very common and can save a tooth that may otherwise have to be extracted.
What is a full coverage crown?
A full coverage crown covers each surface of the affected tooth all the way to the gum line. It is considered a definitive restoration and is tinted to match the color of the rest of your teeth to look as natural as possible. Full coverage crowns are used when a dental decay is too extensive and a filling would not be sufficient or when the tooth is fractured.
Procedure For Full Coverage Crown
If your dentist is able to make your crown in-office, they will place your permanent crown in the same visit. If they use a dental lab, a temporary crown is placed to protect the tooth, and your models are sent to the lab to fabricate your crown. Once your dentist receives your crown from the lab (typically within a couple of weeks), you will be scheduled to have the temporary crown removed and the permanent crown placed.
Material Used For Full Coverage Crown
There are a few material options available to fabricate a dental crown. Your dentist will decide on the best material for your individual case.
Porcelain and Ceramic are the most common materials used. They are not as strong as metal but offer the most natural look and are a great option for teeth that show when you smile. They are also the best option for patients with metal allergies.
Base Metals such as gold, nickel, palladium, or chromium are incredibly durable and rarely chip or break. Metal cannot be tinted to match the rest of your teet,h so they are ideal for posterior teeth that do not show when you smile and take the most abuse with chewing and bruxism.
Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM) crowns offer the best of both metal and porcelain. They are a metal crown with a porcelain coating, providing the strength of metal and the aesthetic benefits of porcelain.
Resin crowns are usually less expensive but are not as strong as porcelain and do not last as long before wearing down or breaking. Resin is still a good option, but keep in mind that they will likely need to be replaced more frequently than other options, costing more overall.
Full coverage crowns are very common and are one of the best options to save a damaged tooth! Make sure to understand your options and what your dental insurance will cover so that you can make an informed decision that will keep your smile healthy for years to come.