Prestbury Road Dental Practice

dental advice

crowns

A dental crown is an artificial restoration that fits over the remaining part of a prepared tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape of a natural tooth. They are used for teeth that have been broken or weakened by decay or a very large filling. They can also be used for the following reasons:

• You may have discoloured fillings and would like to improve the appearance of the tooth
• You may have had a root filling which will need a crown to protect it
• It may help hold a bridge or denture firmly in place

What is a crown made of?
What does having a crown involve?

Q. What is a crown made of?
Most crowns are made from porcelain bonded to a precious metal. A metal base is made and then layers of porcelain are applied over it. Porcelain crowns are made entirely from porcelain and are not as strong as bonded crowns, but can look very natural and are most often used for front teeth. All-ceramic crowns offer a metal free alternative, which can give the strength of a bonded crown and the appearance of a porcelain crown and is therefore suitable for all areas of the mouth. Gold alloy crowns are very hardwearing. Gold is one of the oldest filling materials and it is mixed with other metal alloys to add strength. These crowns are gold in colour and are often used in teeth nearer the back of the mouth.

Q. What does having a crown involve?
The dentist will prepare the tooth to the ideal shape for the crown. This involves removing most of the outer surface and leaving a strong inner core, then he will take an impression of the prepared tooth and send the to a laboratory to have the crown made. When this is returned, the Dentist will try the fit and if he is happy, apply the crown to the prepared tooth. This is done in the following stages:

• Prepare the tooth to the required shape for the crown
• Take an impression of the tooth involved, plus some surrounding teeth to mark the way you bite your teeth together
• An appropriate shade is chosen for the crown to compliment your other teeth
• The dentist will make a temporary crown to cover the prepared tooth whilst your new crown is being made
• Impressions are sent to the lab to have the crown made and another appointment made to have the crown fitted in approximately one week
• When the dentist is happy with the fit and appearance of the new crown, he will fix it in place with special dental cement or adhesive. This forms a seal to hold the crown in place, making it as strong as your existing teeth

This procedure does not hurt as a local anaesthetic can be used during the preparation and it should feel no different from having a filling.

Properly cared for crowns should last for many years, but it is important to keep it just as clean as you would your natural teeth in order to prevent decay from affecting the crown.