When should a crown be placed on a tooth?
Indications for prosthetic tooth restoration using a crown include:
- Replacing large fillings when there is “too little tooth” remaining
- Protecting a weak tooth from fracture
- Repairing a broken tooth
- Covering a discolored or misshapen tooth
- Restoring a root canal-treated tooth
- Securing a prosthetic bridge to replace missing teeth
How are crowns and bridges made?
Before fabricating a crown or bridge, the dentist reduces the size of the tooth (or teeth) so that it has no protrusions and can accommodate the crown. Then, to replicate the patient’s actual cavity conditions in the dental laboratory, an impression (a kind of cast) is made, based on which the technician in the dental laboratory will create a plaster model. Based on this model, the prosthetic work (crown or bridge) is fabricated, which the dentist then places on the previously prepared tooth (or teeth) in the dental office.
What materials are crowns made of?
A prosthetic crown is composed of two structures: a substructure, or cap, and porcelain fused to this cap, which replicates the shape and color of the tooth. The substructure can be made of metal (precious – gold alloys or non-precious) or special hard porcelain (zirconium). Most restorations are made using state-of-the-art CAD/CAM technology.
At the Dr. Łyszczarz Clinic Dental Center, metal substructures for crowns and bridges are made of nickel-free alloys (this is important because nickel is primarily responsible for adverse effects such as allergies and gum discoloration) and non-ferromagnetic alloys (which allows for the safe performance of MRI scans).
How often should removable dentures be changed?
It’s crucial that patients wearing dentures have regular checkups. Even those wearing full dentures should visit their dentist twice a year (for cancer prevention). As we age, changes occur in the oral cavity, and the bone beneath the mucosa shrinks and atrophies. Over time, dentures may become less comfortable, requiring relining (correction of the surface adjacent to the gums), or remaking. It’s generally believed that dentures should be replaced after 3-5 years.
How long does it take to get used to a denture?
New dentures may cause an unusual sensation or discomfort for the first few days or weeks. Eating with dentures may require some practice: gradually introduce increasingly harder foods, starting with a soft diet. Similarly, speaking may be difficult initially, which can be overcome by reading aloud, for example, from a newspaper or book.
Sometimes a feeling of tightness or looseness occurs as the muscles in the cheeks and tongue learn to hold the dentures in place. Overproduction of saliva, a feeling of too little space for the tongue, and mild irritation or soreness are also common. If you experience irritation or pain, consult your dentist.
How to care for removable dentures?
Prosthetic restorations should be cleaned after every meal. For this purpose, you can use a special denture brush or a regular toothbrush and toothpaste (but without fluoride and with a low abrasive content), or preferably, household soap. But what if these products are not available during the day? At the very least, rinse the dentures thoroughly under running water. According to German authors, it is advisable to disinfect removable dentures every few days. To do this, place the dentures in a container with an antiseptic solution, such as 3% hydrogen peroxide, and leave for 10 minutes. People who wear dentures are not exempt from maintaining oral hygiene. This applies particularly to full denture wearers who, without natural teeth, tend to forget to rinse their mouths and massage their gums. If the patient does not use a removable denture at night, the dentures should be stored dry after cleaning.
