At Carrera Dental and Braces we specialize in dental care for children. We are a Family Dental practice but the majority of our patients are children and teens. In some cases a Primary (baby) tooth will need a dental crown. Listed are some reason why:
- To save a tooth that has been so damaged by decay that it can’t support a filling.
- To protect the teeth of a child at high risk for tooth decay, especially when a child has difficulty keeping up with daily oral hygiene.
- To decrease the frequency of general anesthesia for children unable because of age, behavior, or medical history to fully cooperate with the requirements of proper dental care.
Our dentist will prescribe different crowns for children depending on the area of the mouth and the necessity for esthetics. We do use cosmetic (white) crowns vs stainless steel crowns for children through a system called NuSmile Signature Crowns (https://www.nusmile.com/Signature_Pre-veneered). Why would a parent prefer NuSmile Crowns over Stainless Steel Crowns?
- Stainless steel crowns are commonly used to fit over a primary tooth that’s been prepared to fit it. The crown covers the entire tooth and protects it from further decay. When the primary tooth comes out to make room for the permanent tooth, the crown comes out naturally with it. In general, stainless steel crowns are used for children’s teeth because they don’t require multiple dental visits to put in place and so are more cost- effective
- NuSmile Signature Cosmetic Crowns are the tried and true restoration for primary teeth affected by early childhood caries. They give children a healthy, natural smile, are less technique sensitive than composite strip crowns and yet are affordably priced. NuSmile Signature Crowns are the most widely used esthetic crown by a 2 to 1 margin, with more than 5 million restorations performed over the past 20+ years.
In our office we do not charge a different cost for either crown. Medicaid, Chip, Dental Insurance and Cash patients all pay the same amount for either crown esthetic or stainless steel. In many offices there will be an upcharge for the cosmetic pediatric crowns.
Why do teens or adults need a crown?
When a teen or adult presents with a damaged tooth our dentists may prescribe a dental crown. A dental crown may be needed for teens or adult for the following situations:
- To protect a weak tooth (for instance, from decay) from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth
- To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down
- To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t a lot of tooth left
- To hold a dental bridge in place
- To cover misshapen or severely discolored teeth
- To cover a dental implant
- To make a cosmetic modification
There are times when a dentist may prescribe a dental crown vs a filling. Fillings are the preferred method to restore a damaged tooth but may not be enough to fix the problem.
Dental Crowns generally cover the entire tooth after the damaged structure is removed.
Different types of crowns prescribed by our dental professionals to restore a damaged tooth and replace teeth are:
- Metals used in crowns include alloys that have a high content of gold or platinum, or base-metal alloys (for example, cobalt- chromium and nickel-chromium alloys). Metal crowns withstand biting and chewing forces which rarely chip or break. The metallic color — and the high price of gold — is the main drawback. Our Dental Professionals will only prescribe a metal crown if the patient prefers this material or if the patient has a history of break crowns.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) dental crowns can be color matched to your adjacent teeth (unlike the metallic crowns). Next to all-ceramic crowns, PFM crowns look most like normal teeth. However, sometimes the metal underlying the crown’s porcelain can show through as a dark line, especially at the gum line and even more so if your gums recede. These crowns can be a good choice for any tooth replacement including long bridges where the metal is needed for strength.
- All-ceramic or all-porcelain dental crowns provide better natural color match than any other crown type and may be more suitable for people with metal allergies. All-ceramic crowns can be used for all teeth.
- Temporary vs permanent. Temporary crowns can be made in your dentist’s office. Permanent crowns are typically made in a dental lab. Temporary crowns are made of an acrylic-based material or stainless steel and can be used as a temporary restoration until a permanent crown is constructed by a lab.