Dental Crowns: a complete easy guide with everything you need to know!

Chapter 1: Dental Crowns

Welcome to our complete guide on dental crowns. Our dentist, Dr. Cevahir Taşkın, has written this guide and divided it into six parts. Each part will help you understand in detail a unique area of crowns, from the average prices to what you should know about crowns in Turkey. Here we will start with all the general and in-depth info you need to know about crowns. In the next part of this guide on dental crowns, we will talk about the types of crowns.

When you finish all the chapters, you’ll be a crown pro and you’ll be able to decide if this treatment is good for you and your needs. We always believe an informed patient is a happy patient. We’re sure you’ll enjoy your bright smile!

Dental Crowns are a dentistry treatment comprising caps positioned on top of an original tooth needing to be covered, protected, restored, or beautified. We can also use dental crowns as a cosmetic treatment to get a healthy and aesthetic smile. This treatment is irreversible and permanent, as the teeth need to be reshaped to create space for the crown. Also, dental crowns are extremely long-lasting.

What are dental crowns?

A dental crown is a treatment one needs when your natural tooth structure experiences extensive damage. The damage can occur because of injury, tooth decay, weak tooth, fractures, chipping, etc. This treatment has been, in fact, used for so many years and has developed with new materials and new more advanced dental procedures, leaving behind the anesthetic gold and most of the potential side effects.

One of the most common reasons for weak and damaged teeth is bad oral hygiene. Not taking care of your oral health leads to tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental issues. Crowns give your damaged tooth a new structure so you can be pain-free and can chew the same way again.

In case you are new to how crowns work, here’s what crowns do in simple words:

Dental Crown in a nutshell: Need a simple explanation on crowns? Imagine a beanie hat for your teeth. It covers all, is taller than your head, and goes all around it. That’s exactly what a crown does!

Fun Fact about Crowns: Crowns are so biocompatible and so similar to teeth they have the same ability to expand or contract with temperature changes. With hot food and drinks your teeth – and crowns – will expand. While with icy food and drinks, your teeth and crowns will contract.

What do dental crowns look like?

Dental crowns look like a cap or hat that covers the entire tooth to protect the natural tooth. They cover and reshape teeth, creating protection, and are customizable as well. You can find crowns made of different materials including porcelain-fused-to-metal, full metal, composite, etc.

Thanks to new technology, crowns no longer look artificial and blend in with your real teeth. Porcelain fused with metal or E-max crowns looks the most natural among the types of crowns.

Are dental crowns permanent?

Dental crowns are permanent and once you get them, you won’t be able to be without them. If a crown breaks or cracks or is too worn down, it has to be replaced.

Before getting any dental treatment is important to understand every detail. Making the right choice for you means knowing exactly what you’re getting and what this entails. Also you will avoid thinking you got

What are dental crowns for?

Dental crowns are good for treating several dental issues and protecting your teeth from further damage. Here are some of the dental situations where dental crowns can work for you:

Tooth decay
Broken or chipped tooth
After a root canal
Severe discoloration

Tooth decay: Cavities can destroy your teeth and can cause you a lot of pain in the long run. It is important to address this issue before it is too late and it causes you pain. Crowns can restore your tooth after the dentist treats the decay.

Broken or chipped tooth: In many cases, crowns also work where the tooth is broken or chipped. It can give the tooth a new structure and restore its ability to chew properly.

After a root canal: When your decay reaches a point where the nerves are affected, dentists perform a root canal. It is to clean the pulp or root of the tooth. A crown is necessary to protect the tooth from further damage and to restore its function.

Severe discoloration: Sometimes crowns can also work for aesthetic purposes. If your tooth is severely stained or discolored, you can get a crown to brighten up its appearance.

What are dental crowns not for?

While dental crowns are great for restoring a damaged tooth, they might not work in certain situations. Here are the situations where crowns may not work for you:

You want to replace the entire tooth from the root (you need an implant first)
You have lost almost all your teeth (you need an implant first)
You are allergic to dental glue or cement (you need an implant first)
Tooth decay or cavity is untreatable (you need an extraction and implant first)

Can dental crowns replace missing teeth?

Crowns cannot replace missing teeth without dental implants. Dental crowns also work if you lost your teeth structure because of tooth decay or broke it. If the root of your tooth is intact but there is a lack of chewing surface, a crown is possible. However, in such a situation, you must have at least a 2 mm chewing surface available.

When are dental crowns necessary?

So the first question people ask is when are dental crowns necessary. Well, it ultimately depends on your dental condition. There are multiple situations where there’s no other way than a crown to restore a tooth. The situations are as follows:

After a root canal when the tooth is severely damaged
The tooth is severely misshapen or chipped
When you have a broken tooth
To replace an infected or worn-out filling

Who is a candidate for dental crowns?

Dental crowns can be used for various reasons, both medical and aesthetic, and are often suggested by a dentist because of their durability and effectiveness proved throughout the years.

This is what dental crowns can do for you:

Cover teeth with large fillings and not enough natural tooth left
Protect weak teeth in case of breakage or chipping
Protect decayed tooth
Restore harshly affected or worn down teeth
Cover a dental implant
Replace a broken tooth
Cover a bad tooth color
Hold a dental bridge in its place
Cover teeth treated with a root canal procedure
Cover extreme discolorations and stains
Get a more aesthetic smile for your normal teeth
Get a healthy smile
Cover a badly shaped tooth
Correct poor aesthetics

Your dentist will suggest dental crowns if necessary and will evaluate with you if this treatment is your best option and you’re a good candidate for it. We’ll guarantee a beautiful smile!

How old you have to be to get crowns?

The general rule for dental restorations is that the patient must be at least 16 years of age. It is because, until this age, the jaw is still developing and certain complications can occur. Children can get crowns only if there is severe dental damage such as a fracture or a genetic issue. The best way to find out if it is okay for your child to get a crown is to speak to a qualified pediatric dentist. More on this later on in the article.

Is there an age limit for crowns?

No, there is no limit for dental crowns. Also, there is no minimum age for getting a dental crown, it’s simply sufficient that a tooth is damaged enough through decay, too much wear, or it is just plain broken. From toddlers to senior citizens, everyone can get them. Kids chip and break their teeth easily and have cavities because of a problem brushing their teeth correctly. Senior citizens have more decay because of age but also have more delicate teeth. So it doesn’t matter what’s your age, you can always get crowns.

Dental crowns for toddlers

It can be surprising, but dental crowns can be a solution for kids and toddlers too. They are usually advised when a primary tooth – not a milk tooth – has one or more large cavities, a bad development or it is broken or cracked. Studies show children aged 2 to 12 have one cavity – at least – in the 42% of the cases. It’s also important to remember children often break teeth because of accidents. If missing or highly damaged teeth get ignored or not cured, the surrounding teeth might shift and become crooked, requiring braces or aligners in the future.

Dental crowns for seniors

For seniors, you automatically think of dentures. But dentures are not the only treatments you can get when you’re old. Crowns can be used at any age. Especially with age, teeth can have more wear or decay or easily break. In these cases, dental crowns are the best solution. As long as there’s a tooth to apply the crown on, you can easily get veneers at any age.

Dental crowns for crooked teeth

Many people are curious about the possibility of fixing crooked teeth with a dental crown. Now, let’s be clear. Crowns cannot fix crooked teeth. They cannot move teeth or act like Invisalign or braces. However, you can get a chance with incredible results by using crowns on crooked, receding, erupting, or crowded teeth. The only characteristic needed if you want crowns on crooked teeth is you need to have the surrounding teeth aligned with the one getting crowns. You will then have healthy teeth looking perfect.

Dental crowns to straighten teeth, is it possible?

Dental crowns cannot straighten teeth as a whole, they’re not braces or Invisalign or braces. However, you can cover the part of the tooth that is visible and fix minor cases of misaligned teeth, creating the appearance of teeth that are straight and aligned. This can be a good solution if just a small part of your teeth is misaligned and you need an aesthetic solution for it.

Dental crowns for bruxism, is it possible?

Bruxism makes you clench your teeth often and severely. This gives immense stress to your teeth and they may crack or break because of the pressure. Crowns are a good option if you have damage caused by bruxism, and may stabilize the tooth or teeth with breakage. Good quality crowns may handle the pressure of bruxism. But, it might be a good idea for you to handle this problem and wear a mouth guard at night to protect both your teeth and crowns.

When can’t you use crowns?

Dental crowns are pretty much universal, but there are some cases requiring a different solution. You can’t have dental crowns if:

Allergy to anesthesia: if you can’t handle the anesthesia or are allergic to the types used, you may not get this treatment. However, other types of anesthesia may be used. You should discuss this with your dentist.
Serious conditions: if you had a recent stroke or suffer from serious heart diseases and problems, you should restrain from this kind of treatment. Another option could get an exam from your cardiologist and ask them if dental crowns are a good option for you.
Other treatments available: traditional crowns may not be the perfect fit for you! Your dentist may suggest treatments requiring less extensive preparation, like onlay, inlays, veneers, fillings.
Tooth Loss: if your natural tooth structure is missing you’re not a candidate for a crown. You may need an alternative to crowns like an artificial tooth option, a dental implant for example. It’s not possible to have crowns on missing teeth as they are bond to teeth.

Before ruling out complete crowns, get in touch with us and we’ll suggest you the best treatment for your needs.

Dental crown pros and cons

Dental crowns are one of the most used and performed dental treatments out there. They’re both used as restorative care and as cosmetic procedures. This is because there are so many advantages to it and, thanks to the advanced technologies, just a few cons.

Let’s see some benefits of dental crowns

They can save an extensively damaged tooth with no extraction
They’re not extremely expensive
Extremely long-lasting
Protect your teeth forever
Straighten your teeth
Give superior aesthetic
They’re very versatile
Can be used on dead teeth
Correct extreme discoloration permanently with no constant whitening
Improve the aesthetic of your teeth
Proven effectiveness
There are hypoallergenic materials

As in every procedure, there are some disadvantages connected to dental crowns. Knowing the cons of crowns is helpful to make a conscious choice. Some of the main cons to keep in mind when considering crowns are:

The treatment is permanent and irreversible because of the filing of the tooth.
There may be discomfort after the procedure, with some temporary pain.
You may experience some tooth sensitivity, especially to hot and cold.
There may be problems when biting down and it may be because of an ill-fitting crown.
They can chip, especially the ones made of softer materials.
The cement may go away, allowing bacteria underneath the crown. This can create decay or cavities.
There can be an allergic reaction to porcelain or metal.
Crowns are not eternal and may need replacing after 10-15 years.
If you don’t take good care of them, they may need replacing earlier.

Do crowns look fake?

Yes, it is possible for your crowns to look fake if they are too opaque in color. More often, low-quality crowns tend to look fake because they are made of cheap materials such as resin or composite. Crowns more translucent in color tend to look more natural and blend in with the rest of your teeth conveniently. This is how the TikTok trend Turkey Teeth started.

Why do some crowns look fake?

There is an explanation for why do some crowns look more fake than others. Here are some of the reasons why do some crowns look fake:

They are too opaque in color (i.e they do not reflect light)
They are of cheap quality (cheap resins or composite material)
A Gray metal line is visible on the gum line

Will crowns ruin my teeth?

Your teeth will be filed down and will stay like that forever. Also, ill-fitting crowns can wear on the adjacent teeth and create sensitivity – sensitive teeth and sensitive parts around the crown – or damage. Please, get in touch with your dentist if you feel continuous discomfort. Dental crowns can also destroy other teeth if the crown is too abrasive. It may wear on surrounding or opposing teeth, leading to sensitivity or even damage. Tell your dentist if there is any pain or discomfort surrounding your crown right away!

A qualified healthcare provider will know how to install the perfect crowns fit for your personal preference and needs!

Is a dental crown a root canal?

No. A crown is a cap or hat on top of your teeth. A root canal is a treatment to remove infected or affected pulp and nerves out of your teeth, followed by fillings. A root canal can be performed before the installation of a crown in case of pulp or nerve damage.

Is dental crown safe?

Yes. The dental crown treatment is safe but there may be some side effects or complications. An experienced doctor is able to tell you if you’re a good candidate for dental crowns and how to avoid complications. A skilled team will know how to handle a perfect procedure.

Who invented dental crowns?

Dental crowns are probably the first dentistry treatment discovered. They don’t go back tens of years nor hundreds but thousands. Yes, thousands. Let’s delve into the history of dental crowns:

First Dental Crowns: 2000 BC

On the island of Luzon, Philippines, there was a skeleton dating back 4000 years with gold caps on their teeth. This was a dental treatment reserved for only the richest of people, of course. Also, in 200 AD, the Etruscan population used many materials for both bridges and crowns. One of these materials was gold. Yes, gold crowns were used 4000 years ago!

This continued for around 1500 years more and was the gold standard in dentistry procedures.

Ceramic Dental Crowns: 1800s

During the 1800s the ceramic dental crowns emerge with the “jacket crown”. The “Jacket crown was created by Charles H. Land and it was developed from ceramic. E.B. Paulding worked on the jacket crowns, improving them, and introduced them to the market in the early 1900s until the 50s. This type of crown would crack easily during the creation and wear, making them short-lived.

Dr. Charles Land introduced the all-porcelain jacket crowns in 1903. These are the most similar to the ones we use today.

Porcelain-fused-to-metal Crowns: 1950s

Porcelain crowns were the best and newest crown type until porcelain-fused-to-metal came around. They were extremely fragile, while PFTM crowns were more durable. While the porcelain on the outer layer allowed a beautiful aesthetic result, the inside metal allows them to last a long time.

References:

Lynch CD, Hale R, Chestnutt IG, Wilson NHF. Reasons for placement and replacement of crowns in general dental practice. Br Dent J. 2018;225(3):229-234. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30095124/

Lei YC. Zhonghua Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 1991;26(6):329-388. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1820237/