Dental crowns are a well-known type of dental restoration. It encapsulates or “caps” a tooth. It is commonly used in situations where the tooth is severely damaged or broken and a filling would no longer suffice. A crown protects the underlying tooth structure and in many cases saves the tooth from extraction. Also, crowns are used once a tooth has had root canal treatment, both to protect the tooth and to improve the appearance. In cases where there are discoloured, poorly shaped teeth or where tooth are worn down, crowns are also the restoration of choice. There are a number of materials a crown can be made from, including full ceramic, porcelain fused to metal, full zirconia or cast gold. Your dentist would be able to access your aesthetics and functional needs, and recommend the best material.
A few visits are needed in making a crown. Firstly, the tooth in question need to be assessed to ensure the root and nerve are healthy and the surrounding supporting tissue is sound. Then the dentist will remove any decay or filling in the tooth as well as some tooth structure. An accurate impression needs to be taken and sent to our dental laboratory. A temporary cover is then constructed and cemented over the tooth. Once the crown comes back from the laboratory, usually in a couple of weeks, it is checked for colour, shape and fit, and cemented permanently on the tooth. Bite would be checked and final adjustments could be carried out.
Typically, crowns can last between 8-10 years. However, with good oral hygiene practices and regular check-ups, there is no reason why a dental crown would not last even longer. Without good oral hygiene habits, it is possible to develop secondary decay under the crow, and gum disease can also occur leading to loss of a crown or worse still. Loss of tooth. To prevent damage to a crown avoid chewing hard foods, ice or other hard objects. To learn more about dental crowns, please contact us on (03) 95237530 or 0457 452 587 to make an appointment.
