Porcelain-Fused-To-Metal-Crowns
Several benefits can result from a PFM crown.
· It will cover and protect the tooth.
· It is a durable and attractive cosmetic tooth enhancement
· The inner metal core buffers the crown against heavy biting pressures
· The outer porcelain layer looks virtually identical to the color of natural tooth enamel
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crown are made out of a metal core surrounded by a layer of baked porcelain that is fused to the metal.
There are many reasons why your Houston dentist may recommend a porcelain-fused-to-meal crown.
You might need to repair a tooth that has lost its original dental filling. A PFM crown is an great way to save such a tooth by protecting it against future decay and restoring its full functionality.
You may have initially damaged your tooth because of Bruxism without even knowing it. Restoring it with a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown can repair damaged surface and protect it against future wear and tear.
A tooth could have also been badly cracked or fractured. Sometimes these breaks are so bad that many dentists would write off the tooth as unsalvageable and recommend pulling it. We prefer to save teeth instead. In our office, a PFM crown can be placed over even a terribly broken tooth and cause it to work as if it were new and natural.
You will need to plan on making at least two trips to the dentist because making a PFM crown involves a number of preliminary, preparatory steps and the coordinated partnership of a special dental laboratory. This laboratory is where your porcelain crown is actually made.
In order for the lab to know what size and shape to make the crown, they will need full impressions of your teeth. Your first visit involves making these impressions. It also involves cleaning and reshaping the tooth so the PFM crown will properly fit it. This is a simple enough process.
Your dentist will first numb the area around your tooth and place a rubber dam in the back of your mouth to keep dental debris from falling into your throat. Next, the dentist shapes your tooth by removing any decay from it, and by resurfacing it with the dental handpiece so it will function as a secure and sure foundation for the crown.
After the tooth has been taken care of, the dentist then takes full impressions of your teeth and uses this to build a model of your mouth. The dentist will then fit your tooth with a temporary crown so that decay and plaque will not harm it. The dentist then sends you home and sends the impressions of your mouth to the lab.
After the lab receives the model, it uses the replicas of your teeth to make a porcelain-fused to-metal crown that is precision-suited to match your tooth. When the restoration is ready, it is sent back to your dentist to be fitted to your tooth during your second appointment.
Labels: PFM crowns, porcelain crowns, porcelain fused to metal crowns
