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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 of a natural tooth. A crown is sometimes known as a ‘cap'. Why would I need a crown? Crowns are an ideal way to restore teeth that have been broken, or have been weakened by decay or a very large filling. There are many reasons you may need a crown but the result of fitting it is almost always a stronger healthier tooth. What is a crown made of? Crowns can be made of a variety of different materials and new materials are being introduced all the time. Here are some of the most popular options: Porcelain bonded to precious or non-precious metal: This is what most crowns are made from. A precious or non-precious metal base is made and then porcelain is applied in layers over it. Porcelain crowns: These crowns are made entirely out of porcelain and they look very natural. Gold alloy crowns: Gold is one of the oldest filling materials. Today it is used with other metals to increase its strength, which makes it a very hard-wearing restoration. How is a crown prepared? The dentist will prepare the tooth so it is the ideal shape for the crown. This will involve removing most of the outer surface, and leaving a strong inner core. The amount of the tooth removed will be the same as the thickness of the crown. Once the tooth is shaped, the dentist will take an impressions (mould) of the prepared tooth. The impressions are then given to the dental technician, along with details of the shade to use and other information needed for the crown to be made. How long does the treatment take? You will need to have at least two visits. The first is to have the tooth prepared, the impressions taken, the shade matched and the temporary crown fitted. The second is to fit the permanent crown. There will usually be about 1 to 2 weeks in between appointments. We fit a temporary crown so that you can use the tooth while you wait for the crown to be made. How long do the Crowns Last? Crowns a long time and will look at their best for 10-15 years or so with good maintenance from you. This means daily brushing and flossing, combined with periodic examinations by a dentist and visits to a hygienist. If you have any questions or need further information please contact us and one of our team will help anyway we can.
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