A dental crown is a tooth shaped cap that sits over your tooth and is made from porcelain or similar materials. It helps protect the natural tooth structure and restore strength. This treatment is common following a root canal procedure, or to help conceal discolouration that cannot be fixed with teeth whitening.
A crown procedure will take at least two visits to the practice. We start by preparing the tooth to make space for the crown. Next, we take an impression of your tooth so we can create the crown. The crown can be made from metal, porcelain or zirconium and our dentists will be happy to discuss the most suitable material with you. Composite materials may also be used in some cases.
When the crown is ready, you will return to the practice and we will place the crown and fix it permanently in place with dental cement. Your dentist can then make adjustments to the crown if it feels too high or uncomfortable. Once the treatment is completed, you’ll be ready to smile with confidence again.
Crowns are required when the damaged portion of a tooth is too large to fix with a filling. It could also be necessary to help protect a weakened tooth structure. Where possible, we will seek to carry out the most minimally invasive procedure as possible.
With the right care, your crown could last around 10 years. You will need to be careful about eating certain foods or certain habits as these can increase the risk of chipping or breaking your crown. The crown could also come loose as time goes by. With regular dental checkups, we can help to monitor the condition of your crown.
You will be numbed throughout the procedure so you shouldn’t feel any pain. You might feel pressure on your tooth or hear some unusual sounds, but you shouldn’t have any pain. After the treatment, the treated tooth may be more sensitive to hot and cold, but this should soon pass.
