Crowns
Crowns at Springs Dental Studio
What is a crown?
Crowns are an ideal way to cover heavily filled, weak or damaged teeth either to protect them or to rebuild or reshape when veneers or composite fillings won’t be effective.
A crown is an artificial restoration that fits over the remaining or prepared part of the tooth making it stronger and giving it the shape of a natural tooth. A crown is often referred to as a ‘cap’
Reasons to have a crown:-
- Your tooth may be weak or damaged
- You may have heavily filled or discoloured teeth and want to improve their appearance
- You may have a root filling which will need a crown to protect what is remaining of the tooth
- It may help hold a bridge or denture firmly in place
What are they made of?
Crowns are made of a variety of materials and used for different reasons
- Porcelain bonded crowns- are used most commonly where a mixture of strength and appearance are wanted. A metal base is prepared and porcelain bonded over it.
- Porcelain crowns are made entirely of porcelain and are normally used in front teeth. Though they are not as strong as porcelain bonded crowns they do look very natural
- All ceramic crowns – these are a modern technique which offers a metal free alternative to porcelain bonded crowns. It can be used in all areas of the mouth.
- Belle glass composite crowns are very natural and may be used in both front and back teeth
- Gold alloy or precious metal crowns are very strong and mainly used in the back teeth. These may be silver or gold in colour. Gold are excellent for use in people who grind or have very worn back teeth
How is a crown prepared?
Our Dentists will prepare the tooth to the ideal shape for the type of crown to be made. Only the required amount of tooth will be removed to give enough room for the thickness of the crown to fit the tooth.
An impression will be taken of the prepared tooth and of the opposing teeth and sent to the laboratory technician along with the shade and any other information they may need to make the crown.
A temporary crown will be fitted to protect the tooth and keep your smile. It may not be a perfect shade but is only temporary- normally about 2 weeks.
How long will a crown last?
Your crown should last for many years but this depends on how well you look after it. The crown should not deteriorate but decay can start at the edge of the crown if you do not keep it clean or have a high sugary diet.