Crowns
Other treatments
- Before & After
- Bridgework
- Cerec
- Crowns
- Gum disease
- Holistic Health Therapies
- Hygienist
- Implants
- Invisalign
- Plaque and peridontal disease
- Veneers
Crooked & discoloured teeth can be easily straightened
Crowning produces great aesthetic results
What is a crown?
A crown (also known as a cap) is an artificial cover which fits over a specially prepared natural tooth in order to restore it to normal appearance and function.
Why is a crown needed?
There are a number of reasons why a crown might be recommended by your dentist. These might include:
- Decay/ A tooth may be so badly damaged by decay that it becomes impossible to restore it with ordinary filling materials.
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Cosmetic - Large fillings - especially old ones- may discolour and become unsightly. Crowns can somethimes replace dark, amalgam fillings. Crowns also provide a way of improving the appearance of crooked or misshapen teeth.
- Accidents/ Teeth can be damaged in accidents and crowns provide a way of rebuilding the tooth after such an incident.
Some crowns are made ‘in house’ on our revolutionary Cerec machine. This technique can eliminates the need for temporary restorations and enables us to create superb cosmetic results, sometimes in one visit.
What is a post crown?
If a tooth is very badly compromised, it may be that the only way to achieve success in maintaining the crown is to fit a post into the root canal of the tooth. This provides extra support and in many cases is the only way to repair a badly broken tooth.
- Materials used for crowns include:
Porcelain - This can look very lifelike and is most often used for front teeth. - Porcelain bonded to metal - This combines the appearance of porcelain with extra strength and resistance to fracture.
- Gold - This is strong and hard wearing but it's obvious physical appearance means that it is usually only used at the back of the mouth.
How is a crown fixed to the tooth?
There are a number of special adhesives and cements used in affixing crowns. The inside of the crown is filled with a liquid cement and this is then pushed down over the prepared tooth. The cement then sets and any excess material is removed from the edge of the crown and from between the teeth.
Problems with crowns
It is important to remember that putting a crown on a tooth does not render it impervious to decay. Your hygienist will help ensure that problems do not develop. It is also possible for the cement used for fixing the crown to fail, so that the crown comes out. If this happens, the crown can usually be re-cemented without much trouble. If a crown seems to be coming out frequently, this is a sign that there is an underlying problem that needs to be corrected.