Convergence News Network reporter Li Yingxuan / Taipei report

There are a wide variety of artificial crown materials. How do people choose the material that suits them? How long is the service life? Huang Yunxuan, a physician at the Digital Dental Implant Center of Contemporary Dentists, said that artificial crown materials are mainly divided into three categories: all-metal, metal-ceramic crowns, and all-ceramic crowns. In addition to restoring the existing bite and function, the production of artificial crowns can also make people more confident in work, life, and communication.
 

Huang Yunxuan pointed out that the dental crown refers to the part of the tooth that is exposed in the oral cavity. When the crown is severely decayed or broken, after appropriate treatment, artificial crowns can be used to restore the beauty and bite strength. For patients with missing teeth, artificial dental bridges or dental implants can be used to implant artificial tooth roots and then install artificial crowns on top. Artificial crowns or bridges are what most people know as dentures.

The three main types of artificial crown materials are all-metal crowns, metal-ceramic crowns, and all-ceramic crowns. Huang Yunxuan explained that the first type of all-metal crowns are all made of metal materials. The advantages are high hardness and not easy to break. However, the disadvantage is that the metal color can be seen when smiling, which is not beautiful. The gum edges may turn gray and black due to metal staining. The second type is metal-ceramic crowns. The metal is coated with a layer of porcelain. The strength is weaker than that of the all-metal crowns, but the porcelain can show the joint. The color of the teeth is better than that of all metal, but the light transmittance is not good, and there may be metal staining problems at the gum edges, which is still not as simulated as an all-ceramic crown. The third type of all-ceramic crowns can be divided into two materials: zirconium dioxide and glass ceramics. They do not contain metal at all, so the color is natural, they look like real teeth, they will not stain the gums, and they have good biocompatibility.

How long can an artificial crown be used after being installed? Huang Yunxuan revealed that according to today’s technology, artificial dental crowns are very durable. However, the lifespan of dentures will vary depending on each person's usage. If you like to bite hard foods such as bones, if your teeth are not properly cleaned and maintained, or if you have bad habits such as clenching or grinding your teeth, the lifespan of your teeth will be shortened. If you follow the doctor's instructions, avoid biting hard food, clean your teeth correctly, and get rid of the habit of clenching and grinding your teeth. If you can't get rid of the habit, you will need to wear an occlusal guard or bite plate. The lifespan of most dentures can be more than 10 years or even longer.

Regarding the relationship between dental implants and artificial crowns, Huang Yunxuan said that artificial tooth roots are implanted into the bone of the missing tooth area. After the bone and artificial tooth roots heal together, the artificial tooth crown is installed on the artificial tooth root. The entire treatment is called dental implantation. The reconstruction of large-scale missing teeth is also different from the treatment of small-scale missing teeth. Traditionally, for small areas of missing teeth, since there are other teeth to maintain the occlusion, the missing tooth can be transplanted, and the occlusion adjustment of dentures is relatively simple. For patients with extensive missing teeth and no stable occlusal position, it is necessary to reposition the occlusion before dental implant surgery, evaluate the future position of dentures, and then perform dental implants. The technical threshold is relatively high. It is best to choose a dentist with professional training and certification in full-mouth reconstruction.

As for the method of tooth maintenance and cleaning, Huang Yunxuan recommends brushing teeth using the Bethesda method, and using dental floss or interdental brushes between teeth to maintain the longevity of teeth.

photo source/Modern Dental Implant Center
News source/Confluence News Network