A crown is a cap that is placed over a tooth and held in place by dental cement.
Crowns are used for several reasons:
Crowns can be made from a variety of materials. They can be made from plastic, ceramic or metal alloys. A combination of metal and ceramic is also possible to maximise strength and simulate the appearance of natural teeth.
Firstly, a thorough clinical examination is conducted with radiographs, by the dentist. The suitability for crowns is assessed and any preparatory work is carried out. Your dentist will also be able to advise on material choices, treatment sequence and any other concerns you may have.
At the second appointment, the teeth to be crowned are prepared. This involves reduction of the tooth size (usually under local anaesthesia) followed by an impression or mould of the prepared tooth. This trimming of the tooth is required to create space for the crown to be fitted. The mould taken is then sent to a laboratory where skilled technicians will fabricate the crown. In the meantime, a temporary crown is made and fitted onto the trimmed tooth.
At the third appointment, the temporary crown is removed and the tooth’s surface is cleaned. The completed crown is tried on the tooth for fit, harmony with the bite, and appearance. Finally, the crown is cemented onto the prepared tooth with dental cement.
Crowns are made of inert materials that do not deteriorate over time. However, the underlying tooth is still prone to decay and gum disease.
Ceramic on the surface may chip or fracture. Avoid chewing excessively-hard substances like ice or bones. Daily brushing and interdental cleaning are essential for maintaining good oral health as well as keeping the crown trouble-free. The most vulnerable portion of the crown is the margin or the junction between tooth and crown.
Regular check-ups will enable your dentist to detect any problems with your crown and recommend necessary treatment.
At Keats House Dental Surgery, we are proud to present our own in house ceramic studio, with CEREC® this advanced system can quickly restore damaged teeth, using permanent natural-coloured ceramic restorations.
CEREC® is a dental restoration procedure that allows dentists to produce ceramic dental restorations using 3D scanning, CEREC® allows the dentist to produce a new Crown, Veneer, Onlay or Inlay, and Bridges within an hour – a procedure that would normally take more than two weeks.
Instead of the traditional method in using dental impressions, CEREC® creates a detailed 3D model of the tooth using a highly sensitive camera. Once this has been created, it is sent to our milling machine which fabricates the tooth from a ceramic block – a process which can take anywhere from 6 to 30 minutes. The CEREC® system has reduced the time required to fit a crown from 2 weeks to under 2 hours!
Imagine a new, beautiful Crown to disguise a chipped tooth that matches your smile and all in one day! No temporaries, no return visits and fewer injections, what’s not to love about CEREC® One Visit Dentistry?!
With four fully qualified dentists within the team, we take great pride in the level of care we provide, and we always welcome new patients to be registered.
Our state of the art newly refurbished dental surgery, complete with top of the range equipment, ensures that all your appointments will be held in comfort.
