Dental crown is widely used in dentistry to restore the structure, strength, shape and size of a damaged or decayed tooth. It’s an artificial cap that is used to cover an entire existing tooth, in order to restore its normal appearance and functionality. Crowns can be placed anywhere in the mouth, both at the back teeth and front teeth. It’s specially constructed to be able to fit on any tooth no matter where it’s located in the mouth.
For the purpose of this article, we will look at certain things about dental crowns placed on the front tooth for oral health. Most people use to worry when one of their front teeth is damaged and the only way to save the situation is by installing a dental crown. Some of them will be like “how strong are dental crowns on front teeth? Are they really safe for oral health?” Before the end of this article, you’ll get to know if dental crowns on front teeth are really safe and strong for oral health.
Why you may need to crown a front tooth
There are certain dental problems that can be corrected through dental crowning, such as ceramic crowns or resin crowns. In most cases, any of your front teeth can be crowned for restoration purposes, including temporary crowns. Although some people undergo dental crowning not because their teeth were damaged, but for cosmetic reasons. Here are some of the reasons why your front tooth may be crowned with CEREC crowns.
1. Tooth decay: if any of your front teeth has decayed extensively, dental crowning can be a great way to restore the tooth’s normal color and size.
2. Broken tooth: due to trauma, your front tooth can crack or break, dental crowning can be of a great help when it comes to restoration.
3. Root canal: Your dentist can recommend dental crown if your front tooth was treated with root canal.
4. Cosmetic reasons: sometimes some of your front teeth can be excessively discolored. This can result to ugly smile, but you can use dental crowns to cover the affected teeth in order to restore their color back to normal. In some cases, dental crowns can also be used to restore the shape of misshaped tooth.
Dental crowns for front teeth
There are different types of dental crowns available, but not all of them are suitable for your front teeth. Dental crowns are usually differentiated based on the type of material they are made from. Crowns can be made with the use of different materials such as porcelain, ceramic, gold, and metals. When choosing a dental crown for your front teeth, it’s important to consider both the aesthetic appeal and the natural tooth structure. Consulting with a dentist can help you determine which type of crown is best for you.
Crowns made entirely of ceramic or porcelain are considered as the best crown for the front teeth. They provides a more natural tooth-colored appearance when compared with other available crowning materials. For aesthetic purposes, front tooth crown is specially designed to acquire a translucent appearance.
However, a porcelain-fused to metal crown can be used on the front tooth to maintain the natural teeth colour, but it may not be as white as an all-porcelain crown. These ceramic crowns are stronger due to the metal used in the dental laboratory, but the drawback is that the metal may be visible and have a dark colour. This is why most patients prefer all-porcelain crowns with no metal attached for a more aesthetically pleasing result in dental surgery.
So, the two most popular natural-colored crowns for front teeth are all-porcelain and ceramic crown. When it comes to tooth colour, these crowns are designed to match the natural shade of the primary tooth. They are commonly used in dental laboratories to restore the tooth structure.
How strong are crowns on front teeth?
Dental crowns are overly strong and can withstand pressure from chewing and biting food. When it comes to the front teeth, highly durable metallic crowns are not necessary since they are subjected to less pressure from chewing. (1) Strong although less durable natural tooth-colored crowning materials are much more popular for front teeth crowning, since it can affect your smile.
However, most patients prefer stronger and more durable crowning materials such as porcelain or ceramic, not minding if it’s tooth-colored or not. Porcelain or ceramic crowns share similar characteristics with your natural tooth enamel. They are very strong and can protect your teeth against pressure and grinding. They require less installation procedure, but they’re most effective when applied on the back teeth in a dental laboratory or dental surgery.
Generally, dental crowns are strong and durable, guaranteed to last for at least five years, especially when you take proper care of your natural teeth. Your dentist will help you understand better how long each of the crowning materials will last and how they can maintain the natural tooth structure and tooth color, even for primary teeth.
Crowning materials used for front teeth whether ceramic, all-porcelain or resins are safe and strong. The only thing that is required of you is to take extra care not to damage the crown. Even the strongest tooth crowning material can be damaged within a short period of time, when you don’t take good care of it.
Caring for dental crowns on front teeth
You should keep in mind that dental crowns, especially porcelain and ceramic ones, are not as strong as your natural teeth. It’s advisable that you should visit your dentist regularly for frequent check-ups to ensure that your crown, made of porcelain or ceramic, is in good condition. Here are some ways you can take care of a dental crown, which may be made of porcelain or ceramic, installed on your front tooth.
1. Avoid biting on hard foods or other substances such as pencil or pen. I use to see some people who use their teeth as a tool to open drink covers, please don’t ever try such with tooth crowns made of metals or porcelain.
2. Brush and floss regularly to maintain the longevity of your ceramic crowns, metal crowns, and resin crowns. Poor oral hygiene can lead to damage over time. Use suitable toothpastes and mouthwash to keep your teeth and mouth clean. Avoid abrasive toothpaste and hard-bristled toothbrushes, as they can wear down the crown. Remember to take care of your dental laboratory-made crowns.
3. Avoid consuming much of sugary foods and drinks. Taking much of sugary things can result to the accumulation of lots of bacteria and buildups of erosive acids. These bacteria tend to accumulate more around the crown areas. They can wear away the materials that was used to hold your crown in place. This can lead to tooth decay and make your crown to fall off.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to worry about having a dental crown on your front teeth. Dental crowns are very strong and can withstand pressure, where ever it’s placed in your mouth. Whether the crown is installed at the back or front teeth they still serve the same purpose. They enhance the strength of your tooth, while giving it the shape and look of a natural tooth.
However, natural-colored porcelain or ceramic crowns that will closely match the color of your existing tooth structure are usually recommended as crowns on front teeth. All you need to do is to take proper care of your dental crown, it will always remain strong and functional for a long period of time, regardless of the materials used, whether they are metals or not.
Richard Smith is a Registered Nutritionist and also a Health Speaker. Richard Smith graduated from The City University of New York. You can learn more about him by Visiting His LinkedIn Page or Follow him on Twitter.
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