Crowning Achievement: A Brief History of Dental Crowns

Have you ever had a stabbing toothache? That sort of persistent soreness that won't ease up and changes how you have to eat? @artsygoddess, the moderator of the MSP Discord group Girl Power, is currently suffering from such pain and needs to have a replacement crown. Her insurance policy covers the procedure but the crown itself is listed as being cosmetic and therefore not eligible for funding.

To help her, the members of Girl Power have been creating 'crown' themed posts. The SBD raised will be given to @artsygoddess after payout.

Anyone interested in helping with the #crownfundraiser is invited to read the #TeamGirlPowa Crown Fundraiser post @ellievallie made here. Every effort is appreciated. Together we can all help a fellow Steemian in need. Thank you all in advance for your kindness!

What is a Dental Crown?

Dental crowns are fixed implants that can serve several purposes. One can be used to strengthen teeth that have large fillings. A broken tooth will have a crown capped over it to either prevent further trauma or to restore its shape. Following a root canal a dentist may choose to place a crown on the tooth to protect it.

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Crowns also can be used to attach a dental bridge. Missing teeth create gaps that affect the balance of a person's bite. Teeth will naturally shift and/or rotate to fill these empty sections. This movement can lead to the development of gum disease and/or temporomandibular joints (TMJ). The affixation of a dental bridge prevents this.

History

Ancient dentistry was brutal. Mostly, the choices were to allow the aching tooth to deteriorate and fall out, or have it yanked out without anesthesia by whatever local tradesman happened to do the job. (If one was lucky, the person removing the tooth was an actual physician.) A few Egyptian case records described "tooth worms" (what we now know to be cavity-causing bacteria) found in a patient's tooth. Treatments either involved drilling the affected tooth or removal.

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The Etruscans made dental implants from ivory, gold, carved animal bone and even human teeth. These were held in place by gold bands that had been soldered to other teeth within the mouth.

Chinese physicians in the T'ang dynasty used a silver-tin-mercury alloy as an amalgam to fill cavities and for decorative purposes.

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Claude Mouton, a French dentist, was the first to suggest using a white enamel on gold crowns for a more natural appearance. Over 40 years later, in 1789, Nicolas Dubois de Chemant patents his porcelain dentures as an improvement to the increasingly less popular ivory implants.

A porcelain jacket crown, created by Charles Land in 1903, opened the door to ceramics being used to replace teeth. 47 years later Oskar Haggar created an acrylic resin that securely bonded a crown to a tooth. Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark and his team discovered a process called osseointegration wherein titanium is used to anchor implants in 1952 (although he did not share his findings until 1980).

Current Crowns

As time passed and refinements were made, the materials used in crowns changed and the methods of affixing them in a patient's mouth improved to what we have currently. Today, the creation and placement of a crown only requires two visits to a dentist. The examination is performed, the affected tooth is shaped and an impression is made. A temporary crown is placed over the tooth while the dental impression is sent off to a laboratory to be crafted. Approximately two weeks later, the finished crown is then bonded to the tooth.

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There are several different types of materials that crowns are made from today. Which material (porcelain, ceramic, gold, metal alloy or acrylic)is preferable for the patient depends on the location in the mouth, the strength of the material, appearance, and cost. A bit of research into your options and consulting with your dental provider will ensure the best results.

References

All references are provided via links within the text.

Thank you for reading!

Crowning Achievement: A Brief History of Dental Crowns - #TeamGirlPowa Crown Fundraiser

What is a Dental Crown?

History

Current Crowns

References