What is a Crown?

A crown is an artificial restoration that fits over the remaining part of a prepared tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape & appearance of a natural tooth.


Why would I need a crown?

Crowns are an ideal restoration for teeth that have been broken or have weakened by decay or a very large filling.  A crown could be used for a number of other reasons, including:

·         you may have discoloured fillings and would like to improve the appearance of the tooth.

·         you may have had a root filling which may need a crown to protect what is left of the tooth.

·         it may help hold a bridge or denture firmly in place.

What are the different types of crowns?

Crowns can be made of a variety of different materials and new materials are continually being introduced.  Some of the most popular options are listed below:

Porcelain bonded to precious metal– this is what most crowns are made from.  A precious metal base is made and then porcelain is applied in layers over it.

Porcelain– these are made entirely out of porcelain and are not as strong as bonded crowns but they can often look very natural and are most often used for front teeth

All-ceramic– this modern technique offers a metal free alternative, which can give the strength of a bonded crown and the appearance of a porcelain crown.  Therefore it is suitable for use in all areas of the mouth.

Gold Alloy– gold is one of the oldest filling materials, today it is used with other metal alloys to increase its strength, which makes it a very hardwearing restoration.  These crowns are silver and gold in colour.

What is involved?

The dentist will prepare your tooth to the ideal shape for a crown by removing most of the outer surface, leaving a strong inner core.  Once the tooth is shaped, impressions will be taken of your mouth.  These impressions will then be sent to our laboratory where our technician will use them to construct the crown.
             
Once we receive the completed crown from our laboratory we will arrange for the crown to be fitted.  Once you and your dentist are happy with the fit and appearance of the new crown it will be fixed in place with special dental cement or adhesive.

Does it hurt?


No.  A local anaesthetic is used while preparing the tooth which should feel no different to having a normal filling.

How long does treatment take?

You will need to have at least 2 visits, the first for preparation and impressions, shade taking and fitting of the temporary crown and the second for fitting of the new crown.  There will   be between 10—14 days between these 2 appointments.

 What will happen between visits?

At the first appointment after the dentist has taken impressions, a temporary crown will be made and placed by your dentist so that you can use this tooth while you wait for the permanent crown to be made.

Will the crown be noticeable?

The crown will be made to match your other teeth as closely as possible.  The shade of the neighbouring teeth will be recorded to make sure that the colour looks natural and matches surrounding teeth.

What will it cost?

The cost of a crown will depend upon the type of crown and material used as well as other factors. A full written estimate will be given by your dentist.

What will happen if I don’t have a crown?

Teeth that have been weakened by decay, injury or those that have been subject to large fillings are no-longer strong enough to cope with normal biting forces and will continue to breakdown and ultimately fracture if left untreated.

Fractures will allow bacteria to enter the inner surfaces of the tooth causing an increased risk of decay and eventual tooth loss if left un-treated.

 For more information please call us on 01425 615080 or click here to send us a question.

 

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