​WHAT IS AND WHY DO I NEED A CROWN??

WHAT IS AND WHY DO I NEED A CROWN??

A dental crown or cap is a covering that is made to protect and strengthen a tooth. If your tooth is weakened by having a large filling in place, a crack or has had previous root canal treatment then a crown may be indicated to strengthen the tooth and prevent it from cracking or breaking, often beyond repair.

A crown is most often made of ceramic or sometimes gold. These materials offer the best resistance to the everyday forces involved in speaking and eating that teeth are exposed to. We will use ceramic, tooth coloured materials where possible so that they blend in naturally with the rest of your teeth.

The procedure takes two visits. Once your dentist has decided that your tooth requires and is suitable for a crown they will firstly prepare the tooth into the right shape so it can have a crown placed over it. This involves trimming the outer layer of the tooth down by approximately 2mm all the way around it. Once it is in the right shape a mould is taken of this and sent away to a dental laboratory. Your dentist will place a temporary covering, or crown over your tooth whilst you wait, normally 1-2 weeks for your crown to return from the laboratory.

Once the crown is returned from the lab it is usually a simple matter of cementing this in place over your natural tooth. This prevents the crown from coming off the tooth. If a crown is looked after and has been made to a high standard then it should last you a minimum of 10 years.

David Hurst BDS (Lon)