In one form or another, dental crowns have existed for centuries, making them one of the most time-tested of all dental treatments. As we think of them today, however, dental crowns are a little over a century old. During this span, they have provided patients with a multitude of benefits, from restoring form and function to teeth damaged by decay to preserving the remaining healthy structure of teeth after root canal surgery. Traditional metal crowns might not always have been so aesthetically pleasing, but they got the job done pretty well.
Contrary to what many believe, porcelain dental crowns are not actually all that new an innovation. In fact, porcelain crowns have been around for decades. However, there was a time when they could not match metal crowns in terms of their strength or durability, or even come close.
Thankfully, that time has passed.
Modern porcelain crowns offer all of the benefits of their metal counterparts in addition to blending seamlessly in to virtually any smile. Cosmetic dentist Chris Reger is proud to offer custom-crafted porcelain crowns and their many benefits to patients of his San Antonio practice. Patients with teeth that are decayed, cracked, weakened, or otherwise damaged can be fitted with dental crowns that give them smiles as beautiful as they are healthy and strong.
What are the benefits of porcelain crowns?
Porcelain crowns represent the pinnacle of both cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry. As cosmetic restorations, porcelain crowns offer a natural appearance that is unrivaled in dentistry. Like natural enamel, porcelain is translucent, meaning that it allows some light to pass through its surface rather than simply reflecting it. In the hands of a skilled dental artist such as Dr. Reger, porcelain can be crafted to mimic a natural tooth down to the finest detail, in terms of shape, color, size, and even texture.
Aside from their aesthetic value, porcelain crowns offer a wealth of other benefits, including:
- Improved oral health: Porcelain crowns return strength to the bite and structural integrity to weakened, cracked, decayed, and otherwise damaged teeth. By building up teeth that are structurally compromised, they can also prevent adjacent teeth from shifting out of their optimal positions.
- Preservation of natural teeth: By covering the entire surface area of the natural tooth above the gum line, porcelain crowns protect the tooth from further damage caused by bacteria and other harmful forces.
- Pain relief: Especially when used to reinforce weakened teeth or seal off teeth after root canal therapy, porcelain crowns can be fundamental in relieving tooth pain.
- Versatility: Porcelain crowns can be used to conceal cosmetic flaws such as discoloration or malformation, restore damaged teeth, secure dental bridges, and even replace missing teeth when attached to dental implants.
- Strength and durability: Modern medical-grade porcelain produces restorations that are as strong and durable as metal restorations of the past while being far more natural looking.
Learn More about the Benefits of Porcelain Crowns
To learn more about the many benefits of porcelain crowns, please contact Dr. Chris Reger’s Incredible Smiles of Texas today.
