Americans, Canadians and Europeans seeking Dental Crowns procedures no longer have to worry about exaggerated costs, limited or no health insurance coverage, and long waiting lines. The current condition of medical care in developed countries has paved the way for medical tourism abroad. Highly qualified doctors and surgeons in Mexico, who have been educated in some of the top universities in America and elsewhere, hold clinical positions at state-of-the-art medical facilities that cater mainly to medical tourists. Mexico´s medical institutions utilize the newest medical technology and are run by some of the most skilled and qualified medical professionals.
Overview of Procedure
Dentists use dental crowns to correct badly damaged or decayed teeth, to strengthen cracked teeth or to improve the appearance of a stained tooth. Dental crowns are custom-made artificial replacement teeth which are placed over the remains of the natural tooth.
Crowns can be made of ceramic, porcelain or metal. Ceramic crowns are the most natural looking of the crowns and are often used on the front teeth. The tooth-coloured ceramic crown material is translucent like natural teeth and can be colour-matched to a person’s natural tooth colour using a dental shading chart. Ceramic crowns do not function well on the back teeth where they must withstand the pressure of biting and chewing.
Porcelain crowns are stronger than ceramic and more natural looking than metal. However, due to their metal shell, porcelain crowns have an opaque appearance and may wear down over time revealing a thin metal band near the gum line. Metal crowns are the strongest of all the crowns, but because of their metallic colour are often used only on the back molars where they are out of sight and can withstand the pressure of biting and chewing.
The Right Candidates
Anyone with extensive tooth decay or breakage which cannot be repaired by dental fillings alone is a good candidate for a dental crown
Risks and Side Effects
If the permanent crown is placed too high on the tooth, there can be discomfort and pain when biting and chewing. Some patients experience sensitivity to hot and cold.
Surgery
The dental crown procedure is often completed in two stages. First, the dentist removes a portion of your damaged tooth to accommodate the fitting of the crown. An impression of your teeth is then sent to a lab where your crown is custom made, usually within two weeks. While waiting for your crown to be made, a temporary crown is put in place to maintain a natural look and feel. Second, the final crown is permanently bonded to your prepared tooth or is attached to the dental implant.
Recovery
Numbing of the mouth by injection for the procedure causes some discomfort. Once the permanent crown is in place, there should be no pain or sensitivity, although tooth sensitivity to hot and cold may occasionally occur. You may return to work almost immediately after the procedure.
Results
Although the crowned tooth no longer needs any additional care, it is important to take care of the tooth and follow good oral hygiene. Teeth should be brushed at least twice a day and flosses once a day. Especially around the newly crowned area where the gum and tooth meet.
