A Crowns
are an ideal way to rebuild teeth which have
been broken, or have been weakened by decay
or a very large filling. The
crown fits right over the remaining part of the
tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape
and contour of a natural tooth. Crowns
are sometimes also known as ‘caps’.
Q
Why would I need a crown?
A There
are a number of reasons. For
instance:
the tooth may have been weakened by having
a very large filling
you may have discoloured fillings and would
like to improve the appearance of the tooth
you may have had a root filling which will
need a crown to protect it
you may have had an accident and damaged the
tooth
it may help hold a bridge or denture firmly
in place.
Q
What are crowns made of?
A Crowns
are made of a variety of materials and new materials
are being introduced all the time. Here
are some of the options available at present:
Porcelain bonded to
precious metal: this is what most crowns
are made from. A
precious metal base is made and layers of porcelain
are then applied over it.
Porcelain: these crowns are not as strong as
bonded crowns but they can look very natural
and are most often used for front teeth.
Porcelain and composite:
porcelain and composite resin materials can
sometimes look the most natural. However,
these crowns are not as strong as bonded metal
crowns.
Glass: these crowns look very natural and are
used on both front and back teeth.
Precious metal (gold and palladium): these
crowns are very strong and hard-wearing, but
are usually used at the back of the mouth, where
they are not visible.
Q
How is a tooth prepared for a crown?
A The
dentist will prepare the tooth to the ideal shape
for the crown. This
will mean removing most of the outer surface, and
leaving a strong inner ‘core’. The
amount of the tooth removed will be the same as
the thickness of the crown to be fitted. Once
the tooth is shaped, the dentist will take an impression
of the prepared tooth, one of the opposite jaw
and possibly another to mark the way you bite together. The
impressions will be given to the technician, along
with any other information they need to make the
crown.
Q
Who makes the crown?
A The
impressions and information about the shade of
your teeth will be given to a dental technician
who will be skilled in making crowns. They
will make models of your mouth and make the crown
on these to be sure that the crown fits perfectly.
Q Will the crown be noticeable?
A No. The crown will be
made to match your other teeth exactly. The
shade of the neighbouring teeth will be recorded,
to make sure that the colour looks natural and
matches the surrounding teeth. A temporary
crown, usually made in plastic, will be fitted
at the end of the
first appointment to last until the permanent one
is ready. These temporary crowns may be more
noticeable, but they are only in place for about
two weeks.
Q How long does the treatment take?
A You will need to have at least
two visits: the first for the preparation, impression,
shade taking and fitting the temporary crown, and
the second to fit the permanent crown.
Q Does it hurt to have a tooth prepared for a
crown?
A No. A
local anaesthetic is used and the preparation should
feel no different from a filling. If the
tooth does not have a nerve, and a post crown is
being prepared, then local anaesthetic may not
be needed.
Q Are post crowns different?
A Post
crowns may be used when the tooth has been root
filled. The weakened
crown of the tooth is drilled off at the level
of the gum. The dentist makes a double-ended ‘post’ to
fit into the root canal. This can be either
prefabricated stainless steel or custom made of
gold. One end of the post is cemented into
the root canal, and the other end holds the crown
firmly in place.
Q Are there any alternatives to post crowns for
root-filled teeth?
A If a
root-filled tooth is not completely broken down,
it may be possible to build it up again using
filling material. This ‘core’ is
then prepared in the same way as a natural tooth
and the impressions are taken.
Q How long will a crown last?
A The
life of a crown will depend on how well it is
looked after. The crown
itself cannot decay, but decay can start where
the edge of the crown joins the tooth. It
is very important to keep this area as clean as
your other teeth, or decay could endanger the crown. Properly
cared for crowns will last for many years – your
dentist will be able to tell you how long.
Q How are crowns fixed to teeth?
A Once
the fit and appearance of the crown has been
checked – and approved
by you – it will be cemented in place with
special dental cement. The cement also forms
a seal to help hold it firmly in place.
Q Will the crown feel different?
A Because
the shape of the crown will be slightly different
from the shape of you tooth before it was crowned,
you may be aware of it to begin with. Within a few days it should
feel fine, and you will not notice it. The
crown may need some adjustment if it feels higher
than the surrounding teeth. If it is at all
uncomfortable ask your dentist to check and adjust
it.
Before and afters
Case
1
Before
After
Case
2
Before
After
Case
3
Before
After
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Davidson Smith & Associates, 62 Hollway Road, Stockwood, Bristol, BS14 8PG, Tel 01275 832364, email: reception@davidsonsmith.co.uk
Q
Why would I need a crown? 
Q
What are crowns made of? 
Q
How is a tooth prepared for a crown?
Q
Who makes the crown? 
