Your friendly neighborhood dentist knows that dental crowns are the best way to protect teeth that have had root canals, have large fillings, or have been through some kind of trauma. Crowns are used to protect the teeth so that no further breakage occurs. They also help make teeth last as long as possible. Crowns can be made of porcelain, gold or a combination of metal and porcelain. Most often, crowns are made to match the shape and shade of your other teeth. This makes them look as natural as possible. If you’re ready to have the strongest, most beautiful teeth ever, your dentist at Lee Trevino Dental is ready to help!
Where Dental Crowns Came From
While there have been many dental advancements in the twentieth century, crowns are not one of them. In fact, crowns date back to the Etruscans. They were people who occupied most of what is today the Tuscan region of Italy from 700 B.C. to the first century B.C. After that, crowns were not seen again until 1530, when they were mentioned in a book that is considered the preface to modern dentistry.
In the 1700’s, crowns were crudely made from either animal or human teeth and were installed using metal or wooden posts. That may be why there was a rumor that George Washington had wooden teeth. In the following century, the mid-1800’s, porcelain began to be used in their manufacturing. However, the crowns of our ancestors did not fit their mouths. They were not made to order, so-to-speak, until 1907. That was when Dr. William Taggert built a machine for casting crowns. The machine used the method of lost-wax casting as well as wax to create a mold of the patient’s mouth. The wax is poured and cooled to form the final product. Taggert is credited with refining the technique that now allows dentists to make precise, detailed crowns.
Even with all of those advancements, it was not until the 1960’s that the porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns that are used today became available. They are strong and long lasting due to the metal. They are also natural looking due to the use of porcelain. Prior to that, most crowns were either porcelain or gold.
Your Dentist is Ready to Help
Today, dental crowns are often referred to as caps. They are most commonly made from either ceramic or porcelain fused to metal. You can also have them made out of gold or non-noble metals. Those made from porcelain are considered the weakest, but all are strong and designed to last a lifetime if properly maintained with brushing and flossing. And don’t forget to visit your dentist to keep up with all regular dental check up appointments. If you are in need of a cleaning, crowns, or other dental procedure and are in the El Paso area, contact Lee Trevino Dental today!
