Crowns

​Dental crowns are commonly used by dentists all over the world to help with a huge number of dental issues.

Generally speaking, crowns are used to strengthen teeth, while bridges are used to replace them. Even though they are two very different devices, they tend to be mentioned together as they are often used together. If your dentist has mentioned that you might need a crown, it can help to understand just what they are and how they work. Here’s a little information on each one to get you started!

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Crowns: What they are and when they’re used

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A crown is a custom-made cap that sits over-top your existing natural tooth, and it can serve a number of purposes.

Usually, a crown is there to strengthen a tooth that has been weakened. For example, it may be cracked or chipped, or it may have had a root canal. Other times, a crown is used to correct the appearance of a natural tooth, such as when a tooth is badly discoloured or is misshapen. Sometimes, it is even for more than one of these reasons.

Depending on the location of the tooth in the mouth, a crown is usually made from either ceramic or gold. Ceramic is a popular choice for teeth you can see when you smile and speak, as it is made to match the colour of your natural teeth. Gold is used on the back teeth that do the heavy lifting when it comes to chewing, as it is a stronger and more durable material, and people can’t usually see the tooth anyway. Or experienced dentists will advise you on the best option and will talk about the pros and cons of each one.

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How are Crowns made?

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Before the actual restoration can be made, our team will prepare the tooth by reducing its size in order to accommodate the new crown. To accurately fit the prosthetic tooth over the prepared tooth or teeth, an impression will be taken as a “blueprint” for the moulding process.

If you have decided on either the ceramic or porcelain type of material during the consultation, your dentists is able to customise the shade of the crown according to your preference.

Typically, the shade would be matched with your existing teeth in order to blend in seamlessly when the artificial tooth is placed alongside them.

Meanwhile, the dental lab will create your new crown based on the precise data supplied by the impression. A temporary crown will be placed to cover your prepared tooth as you await the permanent one being created at the lab. Once it is ready, your dentist will make sure the size and dimension checks out with a preliminary fitting. When he or she is satisfied that all is well, the permanent restoration will be cemented over your prepared tooth.

Do you need to strengthen a damaged tooth or completely replace missing teeth? Ask about our Crowns and Bridge treatment options at Harmony Dental.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding with a surgical or invasive procedure, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.