Stamped crowns indications. Alloy materials and stages of manufacturing metal stamped dental crowns with photos
What is a stamped crown?
This is a prosthesis that restores a damaged tooth crown. It is made by stamping. A stamped crown can also be placed on a healthy tooth if it is an abutment crown for a bridge.
General characteristics of the stamped crown:
- This is a permanent prosthesis, i.e. it is fixed with cement to a previously prepared tooth. And remains on the tooth throughout its entire service life.
- A stamped crown is made from special metal blanks - caps, which are pre-selected to the size of the tooth. If a suitable size is not found, you can reduce the existing caps using a special machine.
Types of stamped crowns:
1) There are 2 types of alloys for stamped crowns:
- — Golden
- — Steel
Gold stampings were made in the old days, when there were no other technologies for working with gold. They don't make them now - they're expensive.
Today, stamped crowns are made of stainless steel, alloy 1Х18Н9Т. This alloy is distinguished by malleability and ductility. Unlike other alloys, it is possible to forge a crown from it. And most importantly, it is very cheap. Thanks to this alloy and lightweight technology, stamped crowns have become the cheapest on the market.
In appearance, crowns can be coated or non-coated.
— Crowns without coating look like a steel tooth: shiny and silver.
— Sprayed crowns are coated (like paint) with a special substance (titanium nitride), after which they become golden. This is done simply “for beauty” so that the crown looks like gold.
Pros and cons of a stamped crown:
Let's look at the pros first.
- + The most important plus is the price. This is the cheapest crown to date.
- + Another plus is the thickness of the crown. Due to the fact that the crown is only 0.3 mm, the tooth is prepared (cut) only by this amount. Accordingly, a lot of tooth tissue is preserved.
Now the cons.
- -She's Not Aesthetic. Nowadays naturalness is considered beautiful. And a metal crown is completely different from a natural tooth.
- -She's Not Durable. The thickness of the metal layer is only 0.3 mm. This crown can be easily cut with scissors.
- -She ruins her teeth. The fact is that stamping technology simply does not imply accuracy. Therefore, there is quite a lot of free space between the tooth and the crown. It is filled with cement, onto which the crown is fixed. But cement, when there is a lot of it, forms pores. And microorganisms from these pores can destroy the tooth.
Stamped crowns are not the best prosthesis. Doctors often do them unjustifiably. And patients do not know what awaits them in the future. Make wise choices and always do your research on the prosthesis before getting one.
Stamped crowns are one of the types of metal crowns that are made by stamping. It is a structure that follows the shape of the tooth and is used in case of destruction of the tooth crown to prevent further destruction. The crown restores all functions of the tooth, except aesthetic.
Pros and cons
Like all orthopedic structures, stamped crowns have their advantages and disadvantages. In modern dentistry, such crowns are used extremely rarely due to one big drawback - low aesthetic properties.
But they are suitable for prosthetics of lateral teeth, as they are sufficiently durable, invisible to others and have a low cost. Before treatment, the doctor talks about the pros and cons of crowns, offers all possible treatment options and alternatives. The advantages of structures of this type include:
- Effective restoration of chewing function;
- Restoration of tooth shape;
- Distribution of chewing pressure;
- Simple and fast manufacturing process;
- Does not require preparation of a large volume of tooth tissue;
- High strength;
- Durability
- Low cost.
The disadvantages of crowns include:
- Low aesthetic qualities;
- The risk of developing galvanosis - electric currents in the mouth, which are accompanied by unpleasant symptoms;
- Washable after prolonged use;
- The color of the metal is different from other teeth and is noticeable to others;
- Risk of developing secondary caries under the crown.
Metals and their alloys are used to make such crowns. To improve aesthetics, crowns are coated with precious metals - gold or silver. Gold crowns are made if there is an allergy to other dental materials, but this design will be expensive. For production, dental technicians use materials such as stainless steel, nickel and chromium alloy, and gold.
Review (Pavel, 55 years old): “I perform lower jaw prosthetics using stamped metal crowns. They are very reliable and last a long time. A friend of mine had a stamped crown in place for more than 10 years until the root of the tooth was exposed. Of course, the crowns don’t look very nice, but they were placed on my side teeth and they are not noticeable during a conversation. Crowns covered with ceramics were installed on the front teeth; the teeth are beautiful, but expensive.”
Manufacturing
The production of crowns involves the collaboration of a dentist together with a dental technician. The clinical steps are performed by a doctor, and the laboratory steps by a technician. Clinical manufacturing stages:
- Preparation of the oral cavity (treatment of caries and other diseases);
- Tooth preparation (grinding the tooth tissue to the thickness of the future crown, removing 0.5 mm of enamel from all sides of the tooth);
- Taking impressions of the jaws;
- Choice of crown color or coating;
- Fitting and correction of the finished design;
- Fixation of the crown.
Stages of making a crown in a dental laboratory:
- Casting jaw models using silicone casts;
- Fixing models in the occluder in the position of central occlusion;
- Wax construction modeling;
- Production of plaster and metal stamps from metal alloys;
- Selection of sleeve for stamping;
- Stamping a metal crown from a sleeve;
- Grinding and polishing of the crown.
Each manufacturing stage is important, and in order for the finished crown to meet all requirements, it is necessary to adhere to all rules and standards. The quality of the crown will depend on the type of materials, the professionalism of the doctor and dental technician.
Review (Ekaterina, 40 years old): “I had a metal crown on my side tooth for many years and it didn’t bother me. But lately I began to notice an unpleasant taste in my mouth, a burning sensation and tingling sensation on my tongue. When I went to the dentist, they told me that the cause of the disease was the crown and recommended changing it. I had root canal treatment and a crown based on zirconium dioxide, and the unpleasant symptoms of the disease disappeared.”
The service life of the structure will depend on hygienic oral care, quality of design, and operating conditions. In order for the structure to last for a long period, it is necessary to carefully care for your teeth, carry out timely treatment of oral diseases, and visit a specialist for a routine examination.
Installation of a stamped crown is the last clinical stage of prosthetics. Before fixing the structure, the doctor examines the finished structure for defects and checks the crown in the oral cavity. If the crown goes too deep under the gum, then traumatic gingivitis will occur in the future, so the doctor immediately corrects the crown.
To do this, the structure is shortened using a bur or scissors. If the crown is not long enough, food will get clogged between the tooth and gum, causing caries and gum inflammation. In this case, the dentist sends the crown for correction and the technician makes a new product. The dentist checks the design to ensure that it meets the following requirements:
- Densely covered the neck of the tooth on all sides;
- Didn’t go deep under the gums;
- There were no manufacturing defects (pores, cracks);
- Restored the shape and function of the tooth;
- She was in the correct bite.
If the crown is made correctly and meets all the requirements, then the doctor installs the structure on the tooth. To do this, treat the crown and tooth with alcohol, dry and isolate the tooth with cotton swabs. Prepare and apply special cement, put on the crowns and fix them in this position until the dental cement hardens. After treatment, the patient is given recommendations on how to care for the crowns.
Stamped crowns - a means for protecting and restoring teeth
Few of today's youth have heard of such dental products as stamped crowns, but they can still be found among middle-aged and elderly people.
These elements are made of a metal base; they are placed on the tooth and replace its functions. Since stamped products have an inexpensive base and are quite simple to manufacture, their cost is quite low.
Stamped crowns are one of the available ways to restore damaged tooth structure.
The design is made in the form of a metal cap, which is simply placed on the surface of the tooth. This method of prosthetics has been used for quite a long time, but recently such crowns have ceased to be in demand among patients.
This is due to the unesthetic appearance of these products compared to cast and other types of crowns. Stamping is being replaced by more expensive products, the structure of which is as close as possible to the appearance of real teeth.
What materials are used
Stamped crowns are made of a metal material that may or may not be coated. Sputtering
Crown with gold plating
usually made of noble materials - gold or silver. Crowns coated with gold are in greatest demand.
Previously, these products were made without spraying and were in high demand.
Nowadays, stampings are usually used by people with low incomes, because other designs, which are made of ceramics or high-quality plastic, are quite expensive.
Indications for installation
A stamped metal crown is used in the following cases:
- to restore a dental unit in the presence of a defect in the crown of the tooth;
- in order to protect a healthy tooth, on which a clasp denture is subsequently installed;
- used as a protective element for supporting teeth when installing bridges;
- in pediatric dentistry to protect baby teeth that are at the stage of destruction.
Advantages and disadvantages
The positive qualities of stamped products include the following:
- low price, so the cost of stamped crowns can fully compete with plastic products, and, of course, they are much cheaper than porcelain products, which are made of metal ceramics;
- simple design;
- fast production;
- can be used in cases where it is quite difficult to use other methods of prosthetics.
Negative qualities include the following: 
- after a certain time, complete resorption of the cement fixing mixture is observed;
- if the crown does not fit tightly, then food debris can get into the spaces between it and the tooth, which subsequently cause carious damage to the tooth enamel;
- the alloy of the stamped crown is not particularly durable and during prolonged use the base wears out;
- Lost functions are not fully restored.
Features and manufacturing stages
During the clinical phase, the following procedures are performed:
- First of all, preparations are made for installing a crown - the tooth is ground down;
- then the color of the product is selected depending on the patient’s preferences;
- An impression is taken from the dental unit on which it is planned to install a crown;
- after this, the impression is transferred to the technician, who makes the necessary crown;
- the doctor tries on the crown on the tooth and makes further adjustments;
- At the end, the crown is secured.
Laboratory manufacturing steps:
- based on the casts, a plaster model is made;
- Next, the jaws are placed in the area of central occlusion;
- at the next stage, the molten wax material is applied in the form of layers to the gum area and a wax model is made;
- Next, a stamp is made from gypsum material, and then from light metal alloys;
- Next, the sleeve is selected, which is necessarily given the desired shape;
- At the end of the entire production process, the crown is stamped and handed over to the dentist for further installation.
All stages of making a stamped crown are clearly illustrated with video and photos:
Preparation procedure
Preparing a tooth for a stamped crown has distinctive features compared to other types of products. During this process, a thin layer of tissue is removed.
The entire preparation process is carried out according to the following scheme:
Important nuances of manufacturing and installation
Conditions that must be taken into account during the manufacture and installation of stamped products:
- The installed product should tightly grip the area of the tooth neck. If the crown is wide, then a process of irritation and pushing back of the gum tissue, as well as its further atrophy, may occur. But the gap still remains during the manufacture of crowns; it is filled with cement, which completely resolves over time.
- Immersion into the groove area should not be more than 0.3 mm. If the immersion is greater, an acute form of marginal periodontitis may develop.
- The installed crown should fully restore not only chewing functions, but also the full functionality of the tooth.
- The crown must respect the complete anatomical structure of the tooth. It must have all the necessary tubercles and equators.
- During contact of the crown tooth with its antagonist, the interalveolar height should not be exceeded, otherwise the risk of injury may increase.
Features of care
After installing a stamped-type crown, you should follow the same oral hygiene rules as usual. The main condition is that oral care should be thorough and regular.
- It is necessary to cleanse the oral cavity every day, morning and evening, with toothpaste and a brush;
- It is recommended to clean or rinse the oral cavity after each meal and smoking;
- In order to remove food debris from hard-to-reach places, it is recommended to use special dental floss.
Don’t forget that three months after the crown is installed, you should visit your dentist for an examination.
The doctor will be able to examine and evaluate the condition of the crown.
It is imperative to visit a doctor every three months, this will help avoid serious problems, for example, carious lesions of the tooth under the crown.
Service life
The service life of stamped crowns is not long, only 2-3 years. But many dentists recommend changing them after a year, because during this period gaps can form between the crown and the tooth, as a result of which food particles can get inside, which can subsequently have a harmful effect on the tooth structure.
Patients' opinions
Reviews from patients who had stamped crowns installed.
As a result of deep caries, which led to complications, several distant teeth had to be removed at once. As a result, severe discomfort appeared when eating and chewing.
The procedure is of course long, but in principle tolerable. Two weeks later I had a crown installed, which I quickly got used to. I've been wearing it for about a year, and overall I'm happy with it.
Ivan, 45 years old
I engage in professional winter sports, namely skiing. During the next race I fell hard and hit my jaw area. After some time, I discovered severe pain in my tooth and immediately decided to see a dentist.
Upon examination, it was discovered that I had a crack in my tooth. The doctor treated everything, installed a filling, but recommended additionally installing a crown.
I chose a stamped crown with a plastic veneer; it is practically no different from a real tooth. Of course, the installation took a long time, but now I know that the damaged tooth is protected from negative effects.
Sergey, 36 years old
After I gave birth, my teeth just fell out one after another. As a result, I lost almost 5 chewing teeth. At first I wanted to get implants, but they are quite expensive.
The dentist advised me to use stamped crowns. I chose crowns with plastic lining and spraying. Still, it is much cheaper than implantation.
Perhaps in the future I will be able to save up money for implants, but for now I’m happy with it this way.
Irina, 33 years old
How much will it cost?
The price of stamped crowns depends on the composition and external coating: 
- metal costs about 1,500 rubles;
- a stamped crown with spraying will cost 1,700 rubles;
- with lining made of plastic material cost 1900 rubles;
- a product with cladding and spraying costs almost 2,100 rubles;
- products with clasp construction cost 1,800 rubles, with spraying - 2,000 rubles.
Stamped crowns in Moscow
Information was found on 316 suitable dental clinics. Stamped crowns - prices and reviews. Comparative table of dental clinics in Moscow, where they produce stamped crowns and further prosthetics of teeth with crowns.
- Column set:
- Addresses and telephones
- Prices 1
- Prices 2
- Free customization
Dental prosthetics in Moscow offers patients an abundance of options to quickly and accurately replace bad teeth. In particular, you can pay attention to cast stamped dental crowns. This technique has been known for many decades, although it is now being actively replaced by modern technologies. However, there are many cases when it is not possible to put another crown on a tooth - then stamped models come to the rescue.
Features of stamped crowns
Stamped structures made from precious metals and stainless alloys are securely fixed with a thick layer of cement. The undeniable advantages of this method include low cost and ease of installation, which is why it is still very popular today. Prices for porcelain crowns and similar metal-free ceramics are significantly higher - not every patient who has signed up for dental prosthetics in Moscow can afford this option.
Doctors recommend placing artificial stamped crowns in the presence of severe dental defects that make inlays or fillings impossible. An equally common reason for turning to stamped models is insufficient dental strength, which even careful treatment cannot provide. Temporary and metal-plastic crowns are not always suitable for pathological dental abrasion or serious carious lesions. Solid metal crowns have become widespread in orthopedics, where stamped structures become the support for the installation of all orthopedic elements.
An important role in choosing a stamped crown for a tooth is played by its price. Its ideal combination with high quality offers an affordable option for every patient. In many ways, it is the cost that stamped dental crowns compare favorably with their counterparts.
What disadvantages need to be taken into account?
Of course, when choosing which crowns are better, you need to pay attention to the negative features. These include:
- Inability to fully restore the functions of lost teeth;
- The use of soldered joints in the base of stamped crowns sometimes causes galvanic corrosion of the crowns;
- A thick layer of cement is not always able to ensure complete sealing of crowns, which leads to destruction of the part of the tooth located underneath it;
- Due to the lack of a tight fit of the crown, food gets clogged under its edge. This contributes to the development of dental caries and the appearance of an unpleasant odor;
Of course, if the priority in choosing is how much a crown costs per tooth, you can immediately order stamped crowns.
Undoubted advantages of a stamped crown
- This is the cost of a crown per tooth. The cheapness of the procedure is justified by the use of non-precious alloys, which, meanwhile, are capable of withstanding very serious loads for many years. This guarantees a high level of strength characteristics;
- It is also worth noting the ease of installation - the dentist does not have to grind the teeth or remove the nerve;
- Comfort of wearing stamped crowns for the patient – there is no slightest discomfort due to their lightness.
When working with distant molars, it is best to pay attention to gold crowns. The material has truly unique properties that make it particularly comfortable to wear. However, it is quite difficult to find a dental clinic in Moscow offering this service.
Stamped metal crown - manufacturing technique and installation steps
There are several types of orthopedic crowns. One of the most affordable, but no longer popular, is the stamped metal structure. The features of the clinical and laboratory stages of its production, advantages and disadvantages will be discussed in the article.
What is a stamped metal crown?
A stamped metal crown is an orthopedic prosthesis used in the dental industry to restore dentition.
Externally, the thin-walled structure resembles the shape of an incisor or molar.
This type of prosthetics is used when the root is preserved, and the indication is to partially restore the functionality of the tooth and prevent its further destruction.
The technology for making a prosthesis is the simplest: a shape is tapped from a blank sleeve that is as close as possible to the impression made on the patient’s jaw.
The thickness of the crown wall depends on the metal used in the manufacturing process of the product. The average value is 0.2-0.3 mm, which determines the parameters for grinding the tooth.
Clinical and laboratory stages of manufacturing
The process of making crowns requires adherence to certain principles to ensure high-quality installation and minimal likelihood of complications:
Orthopedic design must at least partially perform the function of a tooth.
The production of an orthopedic structure includes clinical and laboratory work.
The clinical stages are carried out by an orthopedist in the following sequence:
- The specialist grinds the tooth and creates a stump.
- The choice of color and type of material is made together with the patient.
- Taking impressions from the jaw where the prosthesis is planned to be installed.
- Transferring data to the laboratory technician, where the prosthesis is manufactured.
- Fitting and correction of orthopedic construction.
- Fixing the product with cement mortar.
Laboratory work is carried out by a dental technician.
The stamping technology is as follows:
- Modeling a prosthesis using an impression.
- Obtaining a plaster model.
- To identify the correct ratio of units in the dentition, the model is fixed in the occluder, giving it the position of central occlusion.
- The model is covered with wax and a crown is modeled.
- Making a stamp from a gypsum composition.
- Selection of a suitable sleeve (size, color).
- Stamping of light alloy crowns.
- Transfer the product to the orthopedist for fitting.
- If necessary, perform correction, as well as final grinding and polishing.
Stainless steel is most often used to make stamped crowns. In rare cases, items made of gold are found.
In the process of creating a prosthesis, various alloys are also used:
- titanium;
- cobalt-chromium;
- silver palladium.
There are several types of metal structures:
Stamped– are made on the basis of caps (sleeves) with subsequent giving the workpiece the anatomical shape of the patient’s tooth;
Indications for installation
- in the presence of a damaged tooth fragment, when it is not possible to install a filling or inlay;
- to create protection for a healthy tooth that is planned to be used as a support for a clasp prosthetic structure or bridges;
- with the destruction of milk teeth.
Stamped metal crown with coating
A stamped crown may have a thin layer of coating. As a rule, it is made from valuable metals to make the product presentable. The base is a steel blank, which, after final fitting, is coated with gold or silver.
Installation of stamped metal crowns
Fixation of crowns is carried out only after treatment of identified dental diseases. The prosthetic process involves tooth preparation, but the layer of bone tissue removed is minimal compared to other methods of restoring the dentition.
Preparatory work is carried out in the following sequence:
- Removing the top layer of enamel (0.3 mm). The work is performed with a special diamond disc.
- After preparation, the orthopedist checks the gaps between the causative and contacting teeth. The interval should correspond to the thickness of the crown. Control is carried out using a wax sheet.
- The next step is to prepare all contact surfaces (adjustment to the thickness of the crown).
- The process is completed by preparing the oral and vestibular parts of the tooth in order to give the stump a cylindrical shape. The diameters of the stump and neck of the tooth must be the same.
Installation of a crown made of stamped metal is carried out in the following order:
- examination by a doctor of the oral cavity to ensure the absence of inflammatory processes;
- quality control of preparatory work;
- fixing the crown to the stump by applying cement to the joint.
Advantages and Disadvantages
When choosing the type of crown, it is necessary to compare the existing positive qualities, properties of the material and its disadvantages.
This will relieve discomfort and disappointment in the process of wearing an orthopedic design:
Installation of stamped crowns
Dental crowns are structures that are worn by many dental patients. The simplest type is stamped crowns. They are made of metal by stamping, after which the structure is put on the problematic tooth and secured to it using special cement.
Crowns are made in two versions - with and without spraying. The same material is used as a base, and then, at the client’s request, the product is coated with a thin layer of gold or silver, or left uncoated. A coated crown, of course, looks more aesthetically pleasing and completely imitates a gold one. A layman will not be able to distinguish a gold-plated structure from a gold one.
Advantages and disadvantages
Stamped orthopedic structures, like any product, have their pros and cons. For some they fit perfectly, while for others they cannot wear them at all. It depends on the characteristics of the human body and the condition of his teeth. Therefore, before deciding to install a crown, the patient should study the advantages and disadvantages of stamped products.
A stamped crown is an orthopedic structure made of metal by stamping, similar to a cap that is placed on top of the tooth.
Pros:
- Metal crowns are the cheapest. Their cost is lower than plastic and metal-ceramic structures. The last option is quite expensive and not everyone can afford it.
- Metal crowns are very easy to manufacture and their production does not take much time. The patient does not have to wait long until the product is ready.
- Unlike metal-ceramic structures that are placed on the front teeth, metal crowns allow you to preserve a larger volume of natural dental tissue. To install metal-ceramic dentures, the doctor has to thoroughly process the tooth.
Cons:
- Metal products placed in the mouth can provoke the development of galvanosis. This is a phenomenon in which an electric current is generated due to the contact of different metals.
- Stamped metal crowns do not look very attractive, even if they are coated with gold or silver. They are noticeably different from natural teeth. Although some patients are quite satisfied with their appearance.
- If the structure does not fit tightly enough on the tooth or the cement with which it is fixed begins to collapse, caries may develop underneath it.
- Rapid wear of metal. The thickness of the structure is small - it is approximately 3 mm, so the material quickly wears off and the prosthesis becomes unusable.
- The design does not follow the natural shape of the tooth. On the metal it is difficult to highlight all the natural bulges and depressions that a tooth has.
Stamped crowns are a method of dental restoration that is easy to manufacture and low in price.
Indications for installation
Several decades ago, when dentistry did not yet use such a variety of materials as it does now, metal crowns were very common. Patients with high incomes liked to emphasize their wealth and social status with gold teeth. Therefore, they ordered orthodontic structures made from this noble metal.
Contraindications
Bruxism is periodic episodes of involuntary contraction of the masticatory muscles, accompanied by clenching of the jaws and grinding of teeth.
The process of manufacturing and installing stamped crowns
A dental cast or dental impression is used in prosthetic dentistry. Before you begin making the prosthesis, you need to take an impression, on the basis of which a crown will be created - a model for installation.
- In the laboratory, based on an impression taken from the patient’s tooth, a plaster model of the future structure is made.
- The jaws are placed in central occlusion.
- A wax model is made from special wax, which is applied in layers to the gum.
- Now the master moves on to creating a stamp: first it is made from plaster, and then from metal.
- Select a special sleeve and give it the desired shape.
- The crown is made by stamping and sent to the doctor.
Preparing a tooth for prosthetics
- In order for the crown to sit firmly on the tooth, it must first be ground, removing a thin layer of enamel. Usually the doctor removes about 0.5 mm. You may need to remove a thicker layer. This depends on the material from which the prosthesis will be made. If gold is used, then more grinding will have to be done, because in this case gold solder will need to be poured onto the inside of the structure. This will significantly increase the service life of the crown.
- Now the doctor needs to check the gap between the tooth being prepared and its antagonist. To do this, the patient bites on a special wax strip, and the doctor checks the resulting imprint.
- Using diamond separating discs and shaped heads, the dentist processes the proximal surfaces.
Before installing a crown, additional preparation is necessary to ensure that the crown sits firmly on the tooth. The required tooth is first wrapped and a thin layer of enamel is removed.
Possible errors and ways to fix them
In order for the prosthesis to fit the patient perfectly, it is necessary to strictly adhere to technology during its manufacture. But even in this case, errors are possible that will require correction.
- If during the installation of the crown the edge of the gum begins to turn pale, the structure needs to be shortened slightly using a bur and scissors.
- If the stump is too large in diameter, the doctor will need to sharpen the tooth so that the crown fits tightly on it.
- If the prosthesis is made poorly, the doctor sends it to the laboratory for revision.
- If the crown is too short, it cannot be used. It also cannot be corrected. In this case, it is necessary to make a new design that will suit the patient in all respects.
During the installation of the crown, it is possible to adjust the product for the best contact. If the crown is not made correctly, it is sent to the laboratory for revision.
Requirements for stamped crowns
A stamped crown is used if a defect in the coronal part of a tooth cannot be corrected using a filling or inlay, they are used as a support for a bridge prosthesis, as well as a support for clasps on a clasp prosthesis.
Cost of stamped products
Dental prosthetics in Moscow offers patients an abundance of options to quickly and accurately replace bad teeth. In particular, you can pay attention to cast stamped dental crowns. This technique has been known for many decades, although it is now being actively replaced by modern technologies. However, there are many cases when it is not possible to put another crown on a tooth - then stamped models come to the rescue.
Features of stamped crowns
Stamped structures made from precious metals and stainless alloys are securely fixed with a thick layer of cement. The undeniable advantages of this method include low cost and ease of installation, which is why it is still very popular today. Prices for porcelain crowns and similar metal-free ceramics are significantly higher - not every patient who has signed up for dental prosthetics in Moscow can afford this option.
Doctors recommend placing artificial stamped crowns in the presence of severe dental defects that make inlays or fillings impossible. An equally common reason for turning to stamped models is insufficient dental strength, which even careful treatment cannot provide. Temporary and metal-plastic crowns are not always suitable for pathological dental abrasion or serious carious lesions. Solid metal crowns have become widespread in orthopedics, where stamped structures become the support for the installation of all orthopedic elements.
An important role in choosing a stamped crown for a tooth is played by its price. Its ideal combination with high quality offers an affordable option for every patient. In many ways, it is the cost that stamped dental crowns compare favorably with their counterparts.
What disadvantages need to be taken into account?
Of course, when choosing which crowns are better, you need to pay attention to the negative features. These include:
- Inability to fully restore the functions of lost teeth;
- The use of soldered joints in the base of stamped crowns sometimes causes galvanic corrosion of the crowns;
- A thick layer of cement is not always able to ensure complete sealing of crowns, which leads to destruction of the part of the tooth located underneath it;
- Due to the lack of a tight fit of the crown, food gets clogged under its edge. This contributes to the development of dental caries and the appearance of an unpleasant odor;
Of course, if the priority in choosing is how much a crown costs per tooth, you can immediately order stamped crowns.
Undoubted advantages of a stamped crown
- This is the cost of a crown per tooth. The cheapness of the procedure is justified by the use of non-precious alloys, which, meanwhile, are capable of withstanding very serious loads for many years. This guarantees a high level of strength characteristics;
- It is also worth noting the ease of installation - the dentist does not have to grind the teeth or remove the nerve;
- Comfort of wearing stamped crowns for the patient – there is no slightest discomfort due to their lightness.
When working with distant molars, it is best to pay attention to gold crowns. The material has truly unique properties that make it particularly comfortable to wear. However, it is quite difficult to find a dental clinic in Moscow offering this service.
The most popular are dental crowns, which eliminate the need for removal. They are made in different ways, from different materials, and sometimes it can be difficult to choose the right option.
What is a crown and why is it needed?
A crown is a type of fixed dental prosthesis. Externally, it follows the shape of the tooth and, when installed, becomes indistinguishable from healthy teeth. It is used for incomplete tooth destruction to restore its chewing functions and aesthetic appearance, as well as to prevent further destruction. Crowns are differentiated depending on the material used to make them. They come in metal, metal-ceramic, plastic and ceramic. Metal ones are rarely used in modern clinics, as they have an unaesthetic appearance and are completely unsuitable for prosthetics of front teeth.
Ceramic ones have a natural appearance. This is the most expensive type of crown; they are made from zirconium oxide. They are used mainly as temporary prostheses, since they do not have durability and wear resistance, are easily subject to mechanical damage and fail. This is the cheapest type. Metal-ceramic crowns combine beauty and strength and are the most popular compared to other types because of their practicality. Dental crowns are also distinguished by the manufacturing method: there is a stamped crown and a solid cast one.
Stamped crowns. Manufacturing principles
The production of stamped crowns has been used for more than a hundred years; many dentists consider this process a relic of the past, but, nevertheless, it is still used because it is very cheap. Cylindrical blanks of different diameters are made from stainless steel, from which metal crowns are stamped on special machines. Such a product must have certain qualities for proper installation and comfortable wearing.
The stamped crown must fit exactly the size of the tooth, cover it tightly, without gaps or voids. Otherwise, it will provoke inflammation of the gums, which can lead to atrophy. For a tighter fit of the crown to the tooth and its fixation, special dental cement is used. The crown should not go deep into the gums, as this can cause gum disease, such as periodontitis. In addition, it must match the shape of a healthy tooth so as not to violate the integrity of the row, and be of an appropriate size to avoid injury. The product is designed to restore tooth function.
Stages of manufacturing a stamped metal crown
- First, an impression of the entire jaw is taken.
- then the desired product is modeled
- receiving stamps
- the crown itself is made
- The product is polished and polished
- The finished crown is placed on a previously prepared tooth and fixed with cement.
Indications and contraindications for the use of stamped crowns
Stamped metal crowns are used:
- In case of incomplete tooth decay. In this case, the tooth is ground to the required size, all its defects and carious lesions are eliminated to prevent further destruction.
- If removable dentures, for example, clasp or bridges, will be installed. Crowns are installed to protect supporting teeth.
- To restore a damaged baby tooth
There are some contraindications to their use:
- Bruxism (teeth grinding, which destroys enamel).
- Complete tooth destruction, in which there is nothing left to save.
- Infectious diseases of the oral cavity.
Pros and cons of stamped crowns
Advantages of stamped crowns:
- Preparing the tooth does not require much time; grinding is carried out to a minimum, since the walls of the crown are thin. This is especially important if the product is attached to a healthy tooth, which will support a removable denture.
- This is a therapeutic procedure that allows you to preserve and avoid removal.
- A stamped crown can be used in cases where others are not possible (for example, the use of implants cannot be carried out due to diabetes mellitus or another illness of the patient).
- This is a cheap method of manufacturing and prosthetics, so it becomes a salvation for people with low incomes.
Disadvantages of stamped crowns:
- Use for a long time leads to abrasion of the crown and its failure. Subsequently, the product will have to be replaced with a new one.
- The cement on which the crown is held dissolves over time, which leads to a loose fit to the tooth and gum. This, in turn, can lead to damage, tooth decay, and tooth decay due to food ingestion.
- If the tooth is completely destroyed, the crown will not help perform chewing functions.
- A stamped bridge contains welded parts that shorten its service life.
Solid crowns
Modern casting methods have made it possible to produce high-quality thin-walled crowns. A solid crown is used to restore the shape of a damaged tooth, its preservation, as a support for bridges and removable dentures. It is cast from a cobalt-chrome alloy, resulting in a solid product without solders. Even when creating bridge-like prostheses, soldering of elements is not required; the structure is poured out entirely. Such crowns can have various manufacturing options.
- Regular crown without coating, polished metal.
- Gold-plated crown. May cause allergic reactions. When worn for a long time, the coating wears off.
- Solid plastic crowns. They have a cast metal frame and a plastic onlay to give the aesthetic appearance of natural teeth. If worn for a long time or carelessly, the plastic may chip.
- Metal ceramics. The most expensive type of crowns, they have durability and a natural appearance.
Indications for the use of cast crowns:
- Significant damage to teeth.
- Pathology of the shape of the teeth or its location.
- Malocclusion.
- Anomaly in tooth size.
- Support for removable and bridge dentures.
- Prevention of tooth abrasion, bruxism.
Advantages of cast crowns
- The possibility of one-piece production not only of individual crowns, but also ensures the strength and wear resistance of the products.
- Durability. Wearing such crowns can last up to 10 years if the quality of the material and installation are performed at a high level.
- Fast and easy production.
- It is performed individually for each tooth and fits perfectly into the dentition without causing discomfort when worn.
- The precision of the design allows the crown to be installed tightly without gaps, which protects against bacteria and food getting under it.
- For front teeth, it is possible to produce crowns with coating or veneering for an aesthetic appearance. A stamped crown does not provide this opportunity.
Disadvantages of cast crowns
- In preparation for installing a crown, a fairly large layer of healthy tooth is ground down.
- The casting of the crown must be extremely precise, otherwise installation and wearing will be problematic.
- When eating hot or cold food, discomfort may occur due to the high thermal conductivity of the material.
- The price of such products is significantly higher than that of stamped crowns.
In modern orthopedics, stamped crowns are used quite rarely, which is due to their low aesthetic and functional qualities. However, reasonable price and ease of manufacture make these products accessible to all categories of citizens. Before making such a prosthesis, you should familiarize yourself with the features of the installation procedure and the rules for its further operation.
Stamped crowns are made from metal blanks, which are stainless steel caps. Before installation, a protective coating of silver or gold is applied to the caps to prevent oxidation of the crowns. Some dental technicians make plastic-lined steel crowns that look more natural. You should not use products made entirely of gold, since this metal does not have the necessary hardness, which leads to rapid wear of the prosthesis.
They can be used to restore a tooth damaged by caries or various external influences. If for some reason it is impossible to install a cast support frame, then “stamping” can fulfill its role. Stamped products are occasionally used in pediatric orthopedics, before the replacement of milk teeth with permanent ones.
Advantages and disadvantages of stamped products
Stamped metal products for oral prosthetics have their advantages and disadvantages. In addition to ease of manufacture and relatively low price, several more positive qualities can be highlighted:
- since the thickness of the stamped crown does not exceed 0.3 mm, there is no need to remove a large layer of hard tissue from the diseased tooth;
- this type of prosthesis can be installed without first removing the nerve;
- Thanks to quick production and easy fixation in the oral cavity, the prosthetic procedure takes little time;
- the versatility of the prosthesis allows you to install a crown even when other methods of prosthetics are not possible.
In the last century, medical presentations and scientific reports were devoted to the topic of metal dental crowns. Modern methods of dental correction and the use of the latest materials in orthopedic dentistry have almost completely replaced “stampings” from the field of dental prosthetics. Stamped products are abandoned for several reasons:
- the medical cement composition, which serves for reliable fixation of metal caps, quickly dissolves under the influence of external factors, which leads to the formation of gaps between the tooth and the crown;
- a loose fit of the “stamping” is fraught with clogging of the resulting gap with consumed food and the development of caries;
- metal does not have the same high strength characteristics as modern materials and wears out over time.
In addition, metal teeth present in the mouth are unlikely to beautify anyone's smile. Today it is quite difficult to find a clinic that manufactures and installs such prostheses.
Manufacturing stages
The creation of a prosthesis is carried out in close cooperation between a dental technician and an orthopedic surgeon. The technology for manufacturing stamped crowns includes several clinical and laboratory stages:
- a thorough examination of the oral cavity by a dentist and carrying out preparatory measures, which include caries removal and root canal treatment;
- removal of the upper tooth tissues with a drill;
- choice of crown color, depending on the patient’s wishes;
- taking impressions of both jaws, which is necessary for accurate fixation of plaster models;
- making models using the obtained impressions;
- installation of the obtained models to determine the correct location of the upper and lower dentition;
- modeling of the future design by a dental technician;
- making a metal stamp;
- choosing a sleeve suitable for the tooth and giving the cap the desired shape;
- stamping the product and handing it over to the dentist;
- fitting of the prosthesis and carrying out corrective procedures.
The final stage is fixation in the oral cavity using dental cement. For some time after prosthetics, the patient may feel a feeling of discomfort in the oral cavity, which usually goes away after 2-3 weeks.
Tooth preparation
After processing, the tooth takes the shape of a cylinder. Its diameter should not be larger or smaller than the hole in the “stamping”.
Important nuances in the prosthetics process
Compliance with a certain number of rules during the installation of “stamping” will help extend the life of the prosthesis. There are several nuances that must be taken into account when using prosthetics with stamped crowns:
- The crown should be placed on the prepared tooth with little effort, which will prevent further injury to the marginal gum and eliminate possible complications.
- The metal cap should not sink into the gum more than 0.3 mm. With deep immersion, inflammatory processes are possible, leading to loosening of the tooth.
- To ensure proper chewing function, it is necessary that the crown fits tightly with the opposing teeth.
A correctly executed crown is characterized by the presence of a realistic surface. After installing the prosthesis, the dentist must ensure that the metal cap does not rise above the adjacent teeth. Failure to comply with this rule can lead to pain when chewing food, as well as to loosening of the tooth and its subsequent loss.
Care rules and service life
After dentures, the patient should follow standard preventive oral care procedures, which include regular brushing of teeth and rinsing the mouth after meals. After 2-3 months from the date of surgery, you must visit your doctor again to be sure that the prosthesis is functioning normally. Every 6 months you will have to have your teeth professionally cleaned. This procedure will help prevent the appearance of caries under the “stamping”.
The service life of metal crowns is significantly less than that of modern ceramic or plastic implants, and is estimated at 3-5 years. This short service life is due to the softness of the material used in manufacturing. Dentists advise replacing old metal crowns with new ones every 3-4 years.
