Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are protective covers fitted over an existing tooth which has been damaged or broken. The crown completely disguises the damaged tooth, protects it and also makes it viable again as a functioning tooth.

Traditionally, crowns were made from porcelain but this has been superseded by newer and stronger ceramic materials which can be very closely matched to the existing teeth. Older porcelain crowns were typically strengthened by using metal bases to support strong biting forces – however this often led to the appearance of a dark black line at the junction between the crowned tooth and gum line. The newer ceramic crowns avoid this and some argue provide a stronger and cosmetically superior solution.

The initial part of the crowning process is usually performed with the patient under local anaesthetic during which the tooth is appropriately shaped to receive the crown. Following this, a special moulding compound is used to take an accurate impression of the tooth so ensuring that the new crown fits correctly and comfortably. The impression is then used by the ceramist in the dental laboratory to create a crown with colour and shape as close as possible to the existing teeth. The laboratory process can take up to two weeks during which the dentist will fit a temporary crown to protect the prepared tooth surface. The crowning process is completed when the temporary crown is removed and the permanent crown is bonded to prepared tooth surface using a special adhesive.

 

Back to Dental Treatments Introduction