Crowns

Why do I need a crown?

Tooth decay

If a tooth has a very large amount of decay, then a crown becomes a more dependable long-term solution. A crown will help to protect the remaining tooth structure underneath. 

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Failed fillings

Sometimes you may have had a large filling that has failed or broken. If the tooth cannot be repaired or re-filled, the most sensible option is to progress to a crown.

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Tooth wear

If a worn teeth need to be built back to their original height, crowns can help accomplish this when composite bonding cannot be used. When crowns are being placed for severely worn teeth, multiple crowns are generally required. 
 

Aesthetics 

Crowns can change the colour and the shape of teeth to improve their appearance. This is one of the many options to improve the appearance of the teeth. 

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A previous crown has failed

Once you have a crown, from that point on, you are always going to need one. So if a crown fails, another crown will be needed to replace it.
 

To hold together a cracked tooth

If a tooth has a crack, often called cracked tooth syndrome, it can need a crown to hold the tooth together, ensuring even pressure on the tooth to prevent the crack from extending further.
 

A root filled tooth 

Teeth that have been root filled are much more brittle than living teeth. They can fracture easily with uneven pressure, so it is the recommendation that root filled teeth are covered with a crown to strengthen the weaker tooth.  

While a tooth can still potentially fracture, a crown makes this much more unlikely, so the sooner this is done following the root canal the better. 
 

How long do crowns last?

On average a dental crown can be expected to last 15+ years, but it is not unusual for it to last considerably longer.

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So what are the choices for my crown?

Zirconia crowns - Zirconia is a very popular material, crowns are made purely of zirconia making them very hard. The advantage is that you do not need to remove too much tooth as the material is very strong in thin sections. 

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Gold crowns - Gold is the gold standard for teeth due to its similar wear pattern to natural tooth. Gold is the most durable, predictable and best tolerated of all the crown materials.

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All-ceramic crowns - All-ceramic crowns look very good and natural which makes them highly aesthetic. Without the metal substructure they have improved optical qualities - the way light passes through the tooth. These have a zirconia or aluminiumious core which is then layered with porcelain to make them look like a natural tooth. 

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All-metal silver crowns - These require a minimal amount of the tooth to be prepared preserving the core for maximum strength and retention.  One disadvantage is colour as they are fully silver. 

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What is the procedure?

It usually takes two appointments to prepare and fit a crown. During the first visit, the tooth will be prepared and then a scan or mould of your teeth will be taken to have the new crown made. At this visit a temporary crown will be made while we are watiing for the dental laboratory to manufacture your crown. 

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At your second visit, the temporary crown will be removed and the new crown will be cemented in place, ensuring it sits comfortably alongside the rest of your teeth.

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