Crowns.

A crown is an artificial restoration that fits over the remaining part of a damaged tooth, which will make it strong and give it a natural shape.

It comes in many different materials, and can be made to match your own natural tooth colour, or in gold.

Crowns are ideal to restore teeth that have been broken, or have been weaken by decay or a large filling. Crowns are very versatile as they can also be used for instance:

• If you have discoloured fillings and you wished to improve the appearance of the tooth.

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

• It may need to hold a bridge or denture in place

Crowns are made from many different materials:

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 the surface of the crown.

Porcelain crown:

• These are made entirely out of porcelain, (they are not as strong as bonded crowns) but they have a more natural appearance and are mostly used for front teeth.

All ceramic crowns:

• These will gives you the strength of a bonded crown and the appearance of a porcelain crown. It is a great metal free alternative. It can be used in all areas of the mouth.

Porcelain and composite:

• Porcelain and composite resin material can give the most natural appearance, but they are not as strong as bonded crowns.

Gold alloy crowns:

• One of the oldest filling materials, today it is used with other metal alloys to increase strength, which make it hard wearing. They can come in white silver or gold colour.

What happens next:

If you decide to have a crown then you would normally need at least two appointments.

The first appointment will be for the crown preparation this appointment would normally be 30 minutes long.

The second appointment will be for the crown fit. This normally take place two weeks after the crown preparation, thus allowing the crown to be made, and (this appointment would normally be 15 minutes long).

Crown preparation:

Before the dentist starts to prepare the tooth a local anaesthetic is used, so the procedure should feel no different to a filling. It the tooth has had the nerve removed, a local anaesthetic may not be needed.

A crown preparation involves shaping the tooth to allow the crown to fit. This involves removing the outer surface of the tooth, leaving a strong inner core. This will allow the crown to fit over the remains of the tooth, creating a natural appearance. Once the tooth is shaped then the dentist will take an impression of the shaped tooth, one of the opposite jaw, and possibly another to mark the way you bite together.

Once the impression has been taken then the dentist will apply a temporary filling material to keep the area clean. This will also allow you to use the tooth while you are waiting for the crown to be made. This temporary filling will be more noticeable, but is only a temporary measure.

The impressions are then sent to the lab, along with all appropriate information so that the crown can be made. This process will take approximately 14 days.

Crown Fit:

On your second appointment your temporary filling, which covered your prepared tooth is removed, and your new crown is fitted. Once you and the dentist are happy with the fit and appearance of the crown then the crown is fixed into place with dental cement. This will form a seal to hold the crown in place.

Post Crowns:

If the tooth is root filled then it may be necessary to insert a post before placing a crown. A post will provide support and help the crown stay in place. A post can be made of prefabricated stainless steel which the dentist can fit directly into the root canal. If needed a custom made post can be created by a dental technician that will accurately fit the shape of the prepared root canal. The post is then placed into the root canal and cemented into position, ready for the crown to be attached.

After the crowns been fitted:

After the crown has been fitted, you may feel that you notice the tooth a little more. This is because the new crown will be a slightly different shape to the tooth that it replaces, after a few days you should find that crown becomes less noticeable. You can also find that sometimes the bite can feel a little uncomfortable, if this doesn’t settle down after a few days, then contact the practice, and the dentist will be able to adjust this for you.

How long will my crown last:

A properly cared for crown can last for many year, the crown itself can’t decay, but decay can start where the edge of the crown joins the tooth. It is important you care for your crown just as you would your natural teeth in order to prevent decay.