Porcelain Dental Crownsin West Sayville, NY

The Time Tested Method For Restoring Smiles

Are you looking to restore damaged teeth with a natural-looking solution? As a leading Long Island restorative dentist, Dr. Sigismondi provides porcelain dental crowns to help patients achieve beautiful, functional smiles. Whether you’re dealing with damaged, discolored, or misaligned teeth, our West Sayville dental office can help restore your confidence with custom porcelain crowns.

Contact our Long Island dental practice today at 631-563-1583 to learn how porcelain dental crowns can transform your smile.

What Are Porcelain Crowns?

Porcelain crowns are custom-designed caps that completely cover the visible portion of a damaged or compromised tooth. Using advanced dental technology, Dr. Sigismondi carefully crafts each dental crown to perfectly match the size, shape, and color of your natural teeth. The porcelain material is specially selected for its remarkable similarity to natural tooth enamel, providing both the strength you need and the aesthetic appeal you desire.

Ready to learn if porcelain dental crowns are right for you? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Sigismondi by calling 631-563-1583.

Types of Porcelain Crowns

Full Porcelain/Ceramic Crowns

Full porcelain/ceramic crowns are crafted entirely from high-grade porcelain material, offering unmatched aesthetic benefits and a natural appearance. They’re ideal for visible teeth and perfect for patients with metal sensitivities or allergies.

Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) Crowns

Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns combine a strong metal foundation with a natural-looking porcelain exterior. While they may occasionally show a slight dark line near the gumline, they provide exceptional durability while maintaining an attractive appearance.

Feldspathic Porcelain Crowns

Feldspathic porcelain dental crowns are traditional dental crowns known for their natural and translucent appearance. They are fabricated by layering porcelain powder onto a model and then baking it in a porcelain oven.

While these dental crowns excel in aesthetics with excellent color control and can be matched closely to a patient’s natural tooth color, they are generally less durable than newer materials. Their lower strength makes them more susceptible to chipping or cracking, particularly in high-stress areas of the mouth.

E-max Crowns

E-max crowns are made from lithium disilicate-based pressed ceramics, offering high aesthetic qualities. They are particularly recommended for the front teeth and can remedy shape and color issues. E-max crowns are biocompatible, metal-free, and provide light transmittance similar to natural teeth.

Porcelain Fused to Zirconia Crowns

Porcelain fused to zirconia crowns are known for their exceptional strength and natural appearance. Unlike monolithic (single-layer) zirconia crowns, these zirconia crowns are layered with porcelain for improved aesthetics. Porcelain fused to zirconia crowns are often created using CAD/CAM technology, allowing for precise design and fit.

Pressed Ceramic Crowns

Pressed ceramic crowns are made using a special pressing technique where ceramic ingots are heated and pressed under high pressure into a mold. They can be fabricated as either monolithic (single layer) or with a two-layer system. The monolithic version offers better strength, while the two-layer system – consisting of an inner core of pressed ceramic and a superficial layer of customizable glass – provides enhanced aesthetics.

CAD/CAM (Same-day) Crowns

CAD/CAM crowns are designed and manufactured using computer technology, often allowing for same-day placement. They offer benefits such as accurate customization, time-saving convenience, and the elimination of temporary crowns. These crowns are typically made from ceramic materials and can last up to 15 years with proper care.

Don’t wait to restore your smile – contact our West Sayville office at 631-563-1583 to discuss which type of crown best suits your needs.

Benefits of Porcelain Crowns

As your Long Island restorative dentist, Dr. Sigismondi takes pride in offering porcelain crowns that provide numerous advantages:

• Durability: Our porcelain dental crowns are engineered to withstand years of daily use, providing reliable protection for damaged teeth.
• Natural Aesthetics: Each crown is custom-crafted to match your natural teeth perfectly, ensuring a seamless blend with your smile.
• Stain-Resistance: The high-quality porcelain material resists staining and discoloration, maintaining its bright appearance for years.
• Versatility: Porcelain crowns can address multiple dental issues, from protecting weakened teeth to covering severe discoloration.

Drawbacks of Porcelain Dental Crowns

Cost and Insurance

Porcelain crowns are a significant investment in your dental and oral health too. Most porcelain crowns cost between $800 and $3000 each, with newer materials like E-max and porcelain fused to zirconia being the most expensive. While dental insurance helps, it often covers only a portion of the cost, especially for crowns placed mainly for cosmetic reasons. Traditional metal-porcelain combinations (PFM crowns) usually cost less but may not look as natural.

Different Materials, Different Challenges

Each type of porcelain crown has its own set of challenges. Pure porcelain dental crowns look the most like natural teeth but can break more easily than other types. Metal-porcelain crowns (PFM) are stronger but sometimes show a dark line near the gums, which can become more noticeable if your gums recede over time. Some people may also be sensitive to the metal in these crowns.

Traditional porcelain (feldspathic) crowns look very natural but aren’t as strong as newer materials, making them better suited for front teeth where the biting forces are lighter. While E-max crowns offer excellent appearance, they might not be the best choice for back teeth in people who grind their teeth heavily. Porcelain fused to zirconia crowns are extremely strong but can look slightly less natural than other options and might wear down the opposing teeth more quickly.

Common Comfort Issues

Many people experience sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures after getting a porcelain crown. While this usually goes away within a few weeks, some people may have longer-lasting sensitivity, especially if the crown needs to be placed close to the nerve. Your bite might also feel different at first, and some people notice small changes in how they speak until they adjust to the crown.

Long-term Durability Concerns

While porcelain dental crowns are strong, they can still chip or crack, especially if you grind your teeth or bite down on hard objects. Over time, the edges of the tooth crown where it meets your gum line might show staining. The color of your natural teeth may change while your crown stays the same color, potentially creating a noticeable difference. Regular dental check-ups and good oral hygiene help your dental crowns last longer.

Technical Considerations

Getting a good result with a porcelain crown depends heavily on your dentist’s skill and the quality of the dental laboratory making the crown. Your dentist needs enough room to place the crown properly – sometimes this means removing more tooth structure than you might expect. In some cases, additional procedures might be needed to ensure the final crown is a good fit.

The Porcelain Crown Process

1. Consultation and Evaluation: During your initial visit to our West Sayville office, Dr. Sigismondi will thoroughly evaluate your dental health and discuss your goals. Using advanced imaging technology, we’ll create a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your needs.
2. Tooth Preparation: Dr. Sigismondi will carefully prepare your tooth by removing any decay or damage and shaping it to accommodate your new crown. This precise preparation ensures your crown will fit perfectly and function naturally.
3. Impressions: We take detailed digital impressions of your prepared tooth to create a crown that matches your natural teeth perfectly. These impressions ensure optimal fit and comfort.
4. Temporary Crown: While your permanent crown is being crafted, we’ll protect your prepared tooth with a temporary crown. This maintains your bite alignment and ensures comfort during the fabrication period.
5. Crown Placement: Once your custom crown arrives, Dr. Sigismondi will carefully place and adjust it to ensure perfect fit and comfort. We take extra time to verify your bite alignment and make any necessary adjustments.
6. Follow-Up: We’ll schedule a follow-up appointment to ensure your crown feels comfortable and functions properly. This allows us to address any concerns and ensure your complete satisfaction.

Porcelain Crown Alternatives

The right choice of dental treatment will depend on your specific dental needs, aesthetic preferences, and budget. Here are some potential alternatives:

• Composite Resin: Composite is a tooth-colored filling material that can be used in certain situations instead of a crown. Composite fillings can restore a tooth that has a significant amount of structure missing, but they may not offer the same level of strength and durability as crowns. They’re often more affordable than a dental crown.
• Gold Crowns: Gold is one of the oldest materials used for dental crowns. It’s durable, non-abrasive, and requires less tooth reduction than porcelain or porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. Some people prefer the appearance of gold, especially for back teeth, while others do not like the metallic look.
• Zirconia Crowns: Zirconia is a type of ceramic that’s known for its durability and strength. These crowns are tooth-colored and can be a good option for people who want both aesthetics and strength. They’re also metal-free, which can be advantageous for patients with metal allergies or sensitivities.
• CEREC® (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) Crowns: This is a system that allows dentists to design, fabricate, and place a crown in just one visit. The crown is made from a block of ceramic material and is designed using computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology. These are also known as same-day crowns.
• Onlays or Inlays: Rather than cover the entire tooth, onlays or inlays only replace a portion of the tooth. They can be made of porcelain, gold, or composite resin and might be suitable for teeth that don’t require full coverage but have too much damage for a simple filling.
• Dental Veneers: For front teeth that are mostly intact but have aesthetic issues, veneers can be a more conservative alternative. They’re thin porcelain shells that are bonded to the front surface of the teeth to improve their appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions