Many patients desire a full, bright, and radiant smile. Unfortunately, accidents or poor oral hygiene can cause teeth to be damaged, discolored, broken, or completely decayed. In these cases, patients may want to restore their smile to its natural beauty. Porcelain has been used in dentistry in a variety of reconstructive and cosmetic procedures, including porcelain crowns. Dr. Rajpal specializes in advanced cosmetic restoration with porcelain crowns — she combines her scientific expertise with her artistic skills to help you achieve the perfect smile.
What are Porcelain Crowns?
A dental crown is a prosthetic replacement for the visible parts of the tooth, i.e., the region above the gum line. When your tooth is damaged, weakened by root canals, or severely fractured, a dental crown can be attached to restore its functionality and aesthetic value. Porcelain is one of the most durable and attractive materials used in dental crowns. A porcelain crown is a full porcelain replacement of a damaged or decayed tooth, offering the same durability and functionality as a real tooth.
Porcelain: An Effective Tooth-Like Material
Dental porcelain has proven to be an effective and durable material with the same visual characteristics as a real tooth. Porcelain is translucent and carries the same color as real teeth. In cases where the natural color of the porcelain is whiter than the patient’s real teeth, Dr. Rajpal may color the porcelain differently or recommend teeth whitening procedures to ensure an even smile. Porcelain has the same shade, texture, and translucence as natural enamel, so it’s an effective and reliable material for dental restoration.
Dr. Rajpal custom fits all porcelain crowns with aesthetics in mind and has years of experience implementing these crowns into her practice. The porcelain crowns are individually created in a laboratory to match the patient’s teeth. One of the primary advantages of porcelain is that it’s stain-resistant, which means it doesn’t become discolored or yellowed with age. Once you get a porcelain crown, you can rest assured that the affected tooth won’t lose its shade or brilliance.
Porcelain Bridges: Replace Multiple Teeth Simultaneously
If you’re missing one or more teeth in a single row, you can also opt for porcelain bridges to replace missing teeth. A porcelain bridge is essentially a series of one or more prosthetic teeth supported by dental crowns on both sides. The porcelain bridge anatomy consists of the fake replacement teeth (pontics) and the surrounding dental crowns. The porcelain crowns are placed on the surrounding abutment teeth, allowing the pontics to replace the missing teeth.
Porcelain bridges allow you to replace your missing teeth with optimal stability — the replacement teeth won’t slip or slide out of place. The dentist has to shave the enamel off the surrounding teeth, so they can accommodate the dental crowns flanking the pontics. After removing the surface enamel, the porcelain crown is bonded to the abutment teeth, offering firm, reliable, and stable support to the replacement teeth. The porcelain bridge blends with the surrounding teeth and looks natural.
You May Need Porcelain Crowns to:
- Protect a weak tooth from breaking or cracking
- Protect a weak tooth after a root canal
- Restore a broken or damaged tooth
- Cover or support a tooth with a large filling
- Hold a dental bridge in place
- Cover a severely discolored or misshapen tooth
- Cover a dental implant
- Enhance the cosmetic appearance of your tooth
- Cover tooth decay or enamel loss
- Cover damage from grinding or clenching
Porcelain Crowns: The Procedure and Maintenance
During your porcelain crown session, Dr. Rajpal will take impressions of your teeth and shade, based on which the porcelain crown is designed. The dentist will etch away the uppermost layers of the tooth, essentially filing the tooth down to a small stub. Once the porcelain crown is prepared in the laboratory, it’s attached to your tooth using bonding materials.
A follow-up appointment will be scheduled after the procedure to ensure the crowns feel and function correctly. You might feel a little tightness on the affected tooth for a day or two, but the porcelain crown will soon be impossible to distinguish from your natural teeth. Porcelain crowns are extremely simple to maintain — regular brushing and flossing are all you need to ensure that the crown and teeth stay healthy.
Real Patient Review
“I've been a patient of Dr Rajpal for over 10 years. In addition to routine cleanings and X-rays, I've also had Invisalign, cavity fillings, and an artificial crown applied. Doc and her team of dental hygienists and administrators are always friendly, efficient, and professional. Plus, they're in a beautiful office with modern amenities such as massaging chairs. Five stars for BH Dental Arts!”
M.S.
Schedule a Consultation
Beverly Hills Dental Arts is a premier dental practice specializing in smile makeovers with porcelain crowns, bridges, and other procedures. Dental porcelain crowns are an effective tooth replacement solution that is becoming increasingly common among adults. The procedure is safe, easy, and requires only minor anesthetics. If you want to restore your teeth without leaving a trace of cosmetic work, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Rajpal, the best cosmetic dentist in Beverly Hills. You may call (310) 273-1199 to see if porcelain crowns can restore your smile.
