Crowns

Dental Crowns, White Crowns, Gold Crowns

Introduction

Porcelain crowns are a very successful option for repairing cracked, broken, decayed or heavily filled teeth. A crown completely covers the damaged tooth above the gum line and so protects it. The colour is matched to that of your own teeth and, as crowns are very strong, they can look and feel exactly like natural teeth.

Why might I need crowns?

• If your tooth has undergone significant decay and there is not enough tooth structure remaining to support a filling or an inlay and maintain functionality.
• If a large portion of your tooth has fractured and it cannot be built up using traditional composite bonding techniques.
• If you have a large cavity and opt for the additional protection a crown offers to your tooth over a large composite filling or an inlay.
• If you have had a dental implant to replace a missing tooth, a crown will be fitted to the abutment of the titanium implant.
• Following root canal treatment, a crown is often needed to strengthen the tooth.
• If you grind your teeth and have a poor diet, acid erosion may reduce your teeth to a point where the only option available is to crown them.
• For cosmetic reasons, to improve the aesthetics of your smile, you may opt for all porcelain cosmetic crowns.

What does the procedure of having dental crowns fitted involve?

Once you have had a consultation with your dentist and discussed all the treatment options, he/she will prepare the tooth for crowning. The first stage is to clean the tooth, remove any decay and reshape it using a burr (a special dental drill for shaping teeth) under local anaesthesia. The shape of the prepared tooth is usually tapered to allow the crown sit comfortably over the top of it. Once the tooth is prepared, an impression (mould) of your teeth will be taken using a special dental impression material. This impression is sent to a dental laboratory, which will use the impression of the prepared tooth as a guide to fabricate the new crown to fit perfectly. It usually takes between two to three weeks for a laboratory technician to custom-fabricate your new crown. During this time, your dentist will fit you with a temporary crown to cover and protect your prepared tooth.

On your second visit, your dentist will remove the temporary crown and roughen the outer surface of your prepared tooth with a special etching acid to give the dental cement a good surface to bond to. Your dentist will sit the crown over your tooth to see if it fits with your smile correctly and is the right colour and shape. Once you are both happy with the restoration and how it looks, your dentist will cement the crown firmly into place.

How long do crowns last?

This will depend largely on how well you look after your teeth. Dental crowns require the same level of care and attention as your natural teeth. Provided you have a good oral hygiene program, attend regular checkups at your dentist, don't grind your teeth, maintain a tooth-kind diet and don't do things like open beer bottles with your teeth, a high-quality dental crown can last 10-15 years.

Prices start at £633