What's a crown and lots of other questions!?
Question:
Anyway, I went to the dentist and he did some x-rays and stuff and said that the decay was really deep in the tooth and he had to do a root canal :o( He put a temporary filling in the tooth but he says I have to go back in a couple of weeks for a permanent filling in it and I'll have to get a crown as well.
What's a crown? And why do I have to get one? It sounds expensive! He says I have cavities in 2 of my wisdom teeth as well, and he wants to pull them out instead of doing fillings - why is that? Can't I just get fillings in them? And to finish off, I need to get two fillings as well in other teeth! But he wants to put silver fillings in because he says they're better than white ones, is that true?
Answers:
Jen,
A crown is required to strengthen the tooth. If you don't get one, your (now dead) tooth runs a high risk of fracture. A crown will cover the tooth and like others have stated, essentially become your new tooth, protecting what is under it. Most crowns that are prescribed these days are PFMs or (porcelain fused to metal), which should blend well with your other teeth. However, there are several options available, depending on your goals. Full cast crowns, ususally made out of gold and placed in the posterior region. Gold crowns are great for two reasons..
1. the gold should be soft enough to burnish itself and keep the margins closed.
2. the gold should be soft enough to minimize damage to the opposing dentition.
The obvious draw back is the esthetics. (Lets face it.. it's not going to be the same color as your other teeth)
Your other option this side of PFM's would be all ceramic.
All ceramic crowns are usually made with a coputer designed coping made out of either alumina, or zirconia. Both of these materials are VERY strong and either white or a natural tooth color. Porcelain is then layered on top of it, and the final result is a metal free, but very strong crown.
Your wisdom teeth need to be pulled because they have decay. But I would suggest pulling them in most cases even if they don't. Why? Because they usually will end up with decay. They are too far back in the mouth to clean properly, and tend to only partially erupt, leaving a small flap of gum on top, thereby making it IMPOSSIBLE to clean. Once decay sets in. it can lead to many other problems. My advice here, get them pulled.
Metal fillings are good and bad.
1. they are good because the dentist can make sure the margins are sealed nice and tightly,
2. they are good because they have a long track record and tend to last several years.
3. they are bad beacuse they do contain mercury, and some people are hypersensitive to this
4. they are bad because they will discolor the tooth they are placed in.
White fillings are.
1. good because they are tooth colored, so they blend well.
2. they are made of composite, (plastic) and are very kind to the opposing dentition
3. bad because they are made of composite and are often too soft, which means they will wear with time, often causing open margins
4. bad because they will stain and turn dull rather quickly.
5. bad because they don't last as long as silver fillings.
you do have several other options, but they are much more expensive. But to break it down.. instead of fillings you can be prepped for inlays, or onlays which then can be fabricated by either gold or porcelain.
Good luck with your dental work, and don't be afraid to discuss your options with your dentist. Make sure he knows your concerns and desires, and I'm sure he will be able to ease your concerns and meet your desires.
I hope this info helps.
Craig
Other Answers:
Crowns are very expensive. What they are is a cover that fits over the tooth because once you have a root canal, the tooth is dead. It tends to fall apart. The crown keeps it from doing so. The wisdome teeth could be pulled or filled, it's really your decision, but if they are not causing you any problem, I'd keep them. (I did keep mine). And yes, the silver fillings are better.
No white ones are better the silver ones are cheeper and have crao in that causes headaches what ever you do dont do it . A crown is like a false tooth cover and they are expencive i would go to another dentist and get an other opinion he sounds like he is crap White fillings, called composites, are better than silver is several ways. They are constructed of materials that are more biosimilar to tooth structure and therefore have properties much like the tooth itself. Traditional metal fillings expand and contract with temperature changes and can cause cracking and chipping of the tooth. Composites are bonded into the tooth with a chemical and mechanical bond unlike silver which was simply pressed into place. Finally, composites are much more esthetic than silver.
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