Leave A ReviewWe provide dental care in Anchorage that goes beyond routine treatments. Whether you’re dealing with damage from decay or trauma, our reconstructive dentistry services can help restore the appearance and functionality of your teeth. With the latest advancements in dental technology, we can offer you porcelain crowns that blend seamlessly with your natural teeth. These crowns not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of your smile but also provide strength and durability, making them an ideal solution for a variety of dental issues.
What Porcelain Crowns Can Do for You
A dental crown is like a helmet that completely covers the visible portion of your tooth. The goal is to restore the strength of your tooth and protect it from future damage. In the past, you had to choose between appearance and strength, however, modern dental crowns made with porcelain now can be both attractive and strong. This makes them useful for a much wider range of cosmetic and restorative dental applications, including:
- Fractured and worn teeth
- Replacing a large filling that has recurrent decay
- Infected teeth treated with root canal therapy
- Teeth straightening, also known as instant orthodontics
- Small or misshapen teeth
- Restoring a dental implant
When a tooth has a fracture, it needs to be protected against further cracking and damage. A porcelain crown can do that in most cases. For substantial cracks or fractures, it may be necessary to have root canal therapy completed (removing the pulp, or nerve, from the tooth) to eliminate the risk of infection. Teeth that have worn down as a result of TMJ or other bite problems may need to be protected and rebuilt to support your bite.
Fillings are adequate to treat smaller cavities, however, when a filling gets to a certain size, it can begin to jeopardize the tooth. Fillings – especially metal amalgam fillings – often don’t add strength to a tooth, in fact, they can significantly weaken the tooth, and lead to fracturing. This can cause decay to form around the edges of the filling, this is known as recurrent or secondary decay.
When the pulp of a tooth is removed as part of root canal therapy, the tooth has to be protected, and a porcelain crown can be used for this.
Instant orthodontics is an alternative to braces or Invisalign for teeth straightening. Instead of moving your teeth, we reshape them. This is normally done with porcelain veneers, but sometimes porcelain dental crowns are used when your reshaped teeth need more strength and support. The same is true for small or poorly shaped teeth, like retained baby teeth or peg laterals. They can be built up with veneers, but sometimes they need a more comprehensive restoration like a dental crown.
Dental implants are only an artificial root. In order to achieve a complete tooth replacement you will need a dental crown or bridge.
How Can A Dental Bridge Fix Your Smile?
A dental bridge is a permanent solution to replacing a missing tooth by reshaping the teeth on either side of the gap. These adjacent teeth are fitted with crowns that support a solid replacement tooth in the middle, and the entire structure is permanently bonded. This method has been used in dentistry for over 50 years and provides a reliable way to fill in the missing space while staying in place during eating. However, the disadvantages include relying on the two adjacent teeth to support the chewing forces that are typically shared by three teeth. Additionally, since the bridge is not removable, it requires extra daily care and maintenance to prevent the development of new cavities.
For those with multiple missing teeth or who find traditional bridges uncomfortable, All-On-4 dental implants provide a modern alternative. This procedure involves placing four titanium implants in the jaw to securely support a custom-made dental bridge, offering a more stable, durable, and long-lasting solution. Unlike traditional bridges, All-On-4 doesn’t rely on adjacent teeth for support, eliminating the strain on healthy teeth and providing a more secure foundation. It restores both the function and aesthetics of your smile, offering minimal discomfort and a faster recovery.
Combining Beauty and Strength
Modern porcelain dental crowns are a remarkable advancement in cosmetic dentistry, which focuses on enhancing the appearance of your teeth, smile, and overall facial aesthetics. In the past, porcelain crowns were similar to dinnerware—visually appealing but fragile, limiting their use to only certain situations. Metal crowns were required for areas exposed to stress, as they provided the necessary durability.
The introduction of porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crowns aimed to combine strength and beauty. However, these often fell short, as the porcelain would chip or wear away, exposing the unattractive metal underneath.
With advancements in ceramic technology, modern porcelain crowns are now not only incredibly strong—up to 20 times stronger than tooth enamel—but also offer the same natural beauty and translucency as real teeth. This makes them a popular choice in cosmetic dentistry, alongside other treatments like teeth whitening, veneers, bonding, and orthodontics, all of which work to enhance the shape, size, color, and alignment of your teeth. While cosmetic dentistry primarily focuses on aesthetics, it also improves dental function, boosts confidence, and helps individuals feel better about their appearance. No one will know the difference between your natural teeth and your beautifully restored porcelain crowns.
Are you considering getting a porcelain crown in Anchorage? Please call (907) 349-0022 for an appointment at Excellence in Dentistry.
