When you have a tooth that has incurred large amounts of damage that cannot be repaired with a traditional dental filling, your dentist’s go-to treatment is often a durable, lifelike dental crown. These strong, realistic restorations are custom made to look like your real teeth and can be used to enjoy a full diet. But how did they come about? Believe it or not, although these lifelike prosthetics are still used daily by dentists around the world, they’ve actually been around for centuries. Here’s a closer look at their fascinating history, and why even today you won’t regret getting a dental crown to repair your damaged tooth!
The Beginning…
While they cannot be entirely certain, researchers believe the earliest dental crowns were first developed back in 200 AD by the Etruscans. However, those first iterations were a little different than they are today, typically made of things like ivory, bone, gold, and yes, even human teeth. In fact, these materials were used regularly until the 19th century when porcelain and ceramic became the go-to!
The 20th Century
By 1905, an inventor named Charles H. Land had developed a ceramic crown known as the jacket crown. This restoration fit over the tooth like a coat, but unfortunately while it was a vast improvement over older iterations, it was very prone to damage.
Porcelain fused to metal crowns (PFM) debuted later in the 1900s, giving the restorations some much needed strength while still looking realistic. By 1984, a ceramic and glass crown had debuted, and over 40 years later is still widely used today. Just one year later, fast, convenient CEREC crowns were developed in Switzerland in 1985!
Teeth Today: Modern Changes to Dental Crowns
Today, there are many options available for dental crowns. Materials like metal, porcelain, and zirconium are all still regularly used, offering unprecedented protection against cavities and decay while allowing the patient to preserve their natural teeth. With the addition of CEREC to many dental clinics around the world, you can even get your dental crown faster than ever, allowing you to complete your entire treatment in one appointment and reducing the risk of further infection while you wait.
Remember, protecting your teeth from damage and decay doesn’t have to be difficult- nor does having excessive decay mean you’ll need an extraction, and it’s all thanks to durable, beautiful dental crowns! To learn more about this treatment and see if your teeth can benefit from it, talk to your dentist today!
About Our Practice
At Prime Time Dentistry, we are pleased to offer both lab-made and CEREC same day crowns to provide a variety of options for our patients. If you have a tooth that has suffered from extensive decay, cavities, or infection, extraction doesn’t have to be the solution! To learn more about dental crowns and see if they’re right for you, schedule a consultation today by visiting our website or calling 945-313-4356.