A dental crown is a professionally manufactured cover that is placed over a natural tooth in order to help restore its appearance and function. Crowns are used for many reasons. Most commonly they are used to protect or cover a broken or severely decayed tooth so that you can use it as normal.
A crown is often placed over a tooth when it has lost the strength to support a normal filling or when the decayed area is very large. They are commonly used to finish a root canal treatment, usually in the back teeth which require more strength due to the greater pressures exerted by the posterior teeth.
Strong protection for your tooth
Natural look, feel and function
Aesthetically pleasingVarious materials can be used in the production of your crown. Often this will depend on where it will sit in your mouth. Very visible crowns can be made from porcelain or ceramic so that they look natural, whereas gold or metal alloys are often used for the back teeth where more strength and durability is required.
Either way, your crown will be matched in size and shape so that it fits perfectly alongside your existing teeth.
To be honest, if a crown is suggested then it’s quite likely there aren’t many other alternatives, apart from the complete extraction of the tooth or a dental implant.
A standard filling could help to fix the problem in the short-term but it will probably only be a temporary solution. As it’s likely you’ll need a crown at some point in the future, often it is more cost-effective to place one in the first place, avoiding a waste of time and money. We try to avoid the complete removal of the tooth where we can as we want to protect your natural teeth and keep you smiling with confidence.
I lost a crown, and called St James who arranged an appointment for the same day. I must commend Jay who treated me. His professional approach and the work he did was excellent and he is a credit to the practice.
Before we can place your new crown the original tooth will need to be prepared. This will involve removing any old fillings and grinding the tooth down under a local anaesthetic. This will make space for the crown to sit level with your other teeth. Once the original tooth is suitably prepared, an impression will be taken and used to manufacture your crown.
During the manufacturing process, which should take around 2 weeks, a temporary acrylic crown will be placed on the tooth.
At your next appointment, the crown will be checked for fit and size to ensure optimum comfort. Once you are happy, it will be securely fixed in place with a dental adhesive.
You will need to be careful with your crown in the first few hours and days after fitting. Avoid biting on any hard foods so that you don’t cause any damage.
Remember that your crown could be damaged over time by hard foods. It is important that you attend regular dental check-ups so any problem can be spotted early.
If for any reason it does fall out, contact us immediately for an emergency appointment.
For more information on dental crowns, please contact our patient coordinator, Jaime, on 01452 727 665 or [email protected].
Did you know that we offer care plans through Denplan?