Dental crowns are versatile restorations that protect and strengthen damaged teeth while improving their appearance. Understanding the different options can help you make an informed decision about your dental care.

At Superior Dental of Lincoln, we offer several types of dental crowns to meet our patients’ unique needs. Reach out to our team today to discuss your options and schedule an appointment.

Dental crowns are custom-made caps that cover the entire visible portion of a tooth above the gumline. They’re designed to restore a tooth’s shape, size, strength, and appearance. Crowns are typically recommended when a tooth is severely damaged, decayed, or weakened and cannot be effectively repaired with a filling.

At Superior Dental of Lincoln, we offer several types of dental crowns, each with distinct advantages:

Porcelain crowns are prized for their natural appearance. These all-ceramic crowns can be precisely matched to the color of your natural teeth, making them an excellent choice for front teeth where aesthetics are paramount.

Benefits:

• Exceptional aesthetic results
• Metal-free option for patients with metal allergies
• Biocompatible with gum tissue
• Stain-resistant

These crowns combine the strength of a metal base with the natural appearance of porcelain. The metal substructure provides durability, while the porcelain exterior offers aesthetic appeal.

Benefits:

• Greater strength than all-porcelain crowns
• Natural appearance
• Long-lasting with proper care
• Good option for back teeth that require strength

Made from zirconium dioxide, these crowns offer exceptional strength and durability while maintaining a natural appearance. Zirconia is a crystal material that’s extremely resistant to fracture and wear.

Benefits:

• Extraordinary strength and durability
• Natural-looking translucency
• Minimal reduction of tooth structure required
• Biocompatible and hypoallergenic
• Resistant to chipping and cracking

Though less common today due to aesthetic concerns, gold crowns remain an excellent option for back teeth where strength and durability are crucial.

Benefits:

• Exceptional durability
• Minimal wear on opposing teeth
• Requires less removal of tooth structure
• Rarely chips or breaks
• Long history of successful use

Made from lithium disilicate ceramic, E-max crowns offer an excellent combination of strength and aesthetics. They’re particularly suitable for front teeth due to their translucent properties that mimic natural teeth.

Benefits:

• High-strength ceramic material
• Excellent aesthetic results
• Thinner than traditional porcelain crowns
• Requires less tooth reduction
• Highly resistant to fracture

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Several factors influence which type of crown is best for your specific situation:

Front teeth typically benefit from all-ceramic options like porcelain or E-max for their superior aesthetics. Molars, which endure stronger biting forces, may require the strength of zirconia or porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.

If the crown will be visible when you smile, appearance becomes a primary consideration. Porcelain and E-max crowns offer the most natural-looking results.

Patients who grind or clench their teeth may need stronger materials like zirconia or gold to withstand these forces.

Different crown materials vary in cost. Our team can help you understand the investment required for each option.

Getting a dental crown at our Lincoln practice typically involves two appointments:

First Appointment:

• We examine and prepare the tooth by removing decay and shaping it to accommodate the crown
• We take detailed impressions of your teeth
• We place a temporary crown to protect your tooth while your permanent crown is being crafted

Second Appointment:

• We remove the temporary crown
• We check the fit and appearance of your new permanent crown
• We permanently cement the crown in place

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With proper care, your dental crown can last 10-15 years or even longer:

• Brush twice daily and floss around the crown area daily
• Avoid chewing extremely hard foods or objects
• Wear a nightguard if you grind your teeth
• Maintain regular dental check-ups and cleanings

If you have a damaged or weakened tooth that might benefit from a crown, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our experienced team at Superior Dental of Lincoln. We’ll evaluate your specific needs and help you choose the best crown material for your situation.

Contact Superior Dental of Lincoln today to learn more about our dental crown options and how they can restore your smile’s function and beauty!