Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped prosthetic which is normally used to cover a badly damaged or decayed tooth.
Applications Include:
- When a dental filling, inlay, or onlay cannot replace enough of the tooth and add sufficient strength.
- To hold together parts of a cracked tooth.
- As part of a dental bridge.
- As the tooth section of a dental implant.
- Improve the appearance of existing teeth.
Permanent crowns are available in a number of different materials. Better materials have been developed overtime and the cosmetic appearance these crowns has improved. These materials include:
- Metal (Gold, Stainless Steel, base-metal alloys).
- Zirconia.
- Porcelain fused to metal (PFM).
- Porcelain fused to zirconia.
- Ceramic.
Temporary crowns are typically made of plastic and are placed until a permanent crown has been fabricated.
- A root canal may be required if the tooth is sufficiently damaged, or if the cavity reaches the pulp of the tooth.
- A post and core foundation may be required to allow the crown to be mounted.
- The two main types of post are metal and fiber. Fiber posts are white and can produce a better cosmetic result.
- The tooth will be filled down and shaped to allow space for a crown to be placed.
- Impressions are made of the tooth, and the teeth above and below. These will be used to fabricate an appropriate sized permanent crown.
- A temporary crown will be placed using a weak temporary cement. If the dental facility has the necessary equipment to fabricate a permanent crown straight away, this step can be skipped.
- The temporary crown will be removed.
- The permanent crown will be test fit and adjusted to improve the fit.
- The crown will be cemented in place.
- The crown will be polished and adjusted to allow for a comfortable bite.
Crowns can chip and be damaged over time. If the crown does not fit very well, the cement can wash out from under the crown and bacteria can build up below the crown. If your crown becomes loose, or there is a bad smell from around the tooth, you should visit your dentist for a checkup. Permanent crowns can last for a lifetime if the tooth underneath stays strong and does not develop any cavities. Maintaining good oral hygiene will help your crown to last longer.
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