Dental crowns are used to strengthen and repair damaged teeth.
If you are missing a tooth, or have a severely damaged or weakened tooth as a result of tooth decay, wear and tear or a root canal treatment, you might benefit from a dental crown. Dental crowns are designed to fit over damaged teeth and can help to restore both the appearance and function of one’s smile considerably. Read on to find out more about the treatment, and what the process involves.
What types of crowns are available?
Dental crowns can be made from a variety of different materials. These include porcelain, ceramic, metal, composite resin or a combination of these materials. The material that suits you best will depend on your particular needs, as well as the location of your damaged tooth, the extent of the damage, bite and the colour of your surrounding natural teeth.
What are they used for?
Dental crowns are used to strengthen and restore teeth that have been damaged or weakened by issues like tooth decay or dental erosion. The treatment is also often recommended after a root canal treatment, especially in cases where the tooth has weakened considerably and is prone to further damage.
If you are missing a tooth, your dentist may recommend a crown. In this case, a dental bridge or dental implant will be placed to support the crown.
What does the process involve?
If you suspect that you would benefit from a crown, it is a good idea to see your dentist as soon as possible. They will examine your teeth and confirm whether or not a crown is the best form of treatment for your particular needs.
If your dentist recommends a crown and you decide to go ahead with the treatment, your tooth will need to be prepared before the crown can be placed. During the preparation process, your dentist will prepare your tooth by removing some of the outer layers and ensure that the crown will fit properly. An impression or digital scan will then be taken of your prepared tooth. You may go home with a permanent crown or a temporary crown will be placed for protection until the permanent crown is ready.
The impression or digital scan of your prepared tooth will be sent to a laboratory, where your crown will be fabricated. When your permanent crown is ready, your dentist will bond it to your tooth with a special type of cement.
How do you take care of a crown?
When your crown has been placed, you will need to practise proper oral hygiene to take good care of it. You must brush it gently at least twice a day along with your natural teeth. Flossing is also an important habit that helps to maintain the condition of your crown, as well as your overall oral health.
If you have a crown, it is a good idea to avoid hard foods that can exert excessive pressure on your teeth and cause cracks. If you grind your teeth at night, you should address the issue — chat to your dentist about possible solutions so that you can prevent damage to your crown and teeth.
How can we help?
At Extreme Dentistry, we offer dental crowns to help protect damaged or weakened teeth and restore their appearance. If you need a dental crown, you will need to come in and see us for multiple appointments — first, we will assess and match the shade of your natural teeth, and then we will prepare the affected tooth to ensure that the crown can fit properly. We will take a mould of your prepared tooth, which will then be used to fabricate a crown at a specialised laboratory. In the meantime, we will place a temporary crown. When your permanent crown is ready, it will be cemented in place.
We also offer dental bridges, which are often an ideal solution for patients who need to have two or more adjacent missing teeth replaced without the use of dental implants. Dental bridges help to restore the aesthetic of one’s smile, and also improve oral functions like biting, chewing and speaking.
To find out more about dental crowns and bridges and what the treatment processes involve, please have a look here.
To arrange a consultation to see us, please get in touch with us here or give us a call on 08 8948 1225.
