Crowns (or caps) are dental restorations that replace the visible parts of a tooth that have been damaged. It’s one of the procedures for restoring teeth that have been damaged or are missing. Most crowns are made of zirconium or porcelain that has been fused to metal (PFM).
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The procedure involves preparing the tooth to accept a crown, making an impression for the technicians to produce the crown, making and placing a temporary crown and, finally, cementing the fabricated crown.
A crown is required to restore a tooth when a large portion of the tooth has been lost to decay, previous fillings or a fracture. A filling will fill a space in a tooth formed by decay or a small chip. A filling requires sufficient remaining tooth structure, not only to hold the filling in place but to allow the function of the tooth.
cost of dental crowns are a perfect choice if you have visibly stained teeth, badly cracked or damaged teeth. A crown will cover the entire tooth like a cap. Depending on the level of damage, we will recommend which type of dental crown will suit you best.
Crowns are made from materials that are strong enough to distribute biting forces to the compromised or fractured tooth. These materials include metal, porcelain, zirconia or a combination of all. The type of crown used depends on your circumstances.
Our dentist will take an X-rayof the tooth that requires Dental Crown treatment during your first visit to our clinics. In some cases, Root Canal Treatment may be required prior to the placement of a dental crown.
The gum tissues surrounding the tooth that requires treatment are anesthetized before the dental crown procedure begins. The tooth is then filed on the sides and surfaces to create the proper shape for the dental crown to be placed.
Our dentists will take an impression of the tooth as soon as it has been reshaped. This impression will then be sent to our dental laboratory, where a custom-made dental crown will be created for you, as well as the color of porcelain prosthetics. While our experts create your dental crown, a temporary crown will be provided to protect the filed tooth and cover any visible gaps.
You will receive a permanent crown at your next visit to one of our clinics. The temporary crown will be removed and the permanent crown will be placed. The crown will be cemented if it fits well and matches the shape and color of the other teeth.
A crown is designed to last around 15 years. However, the life of a crown can depend on the health of the tooth it is on. The remaining part of your tooth is still susceptible to disease, so you must maintain your crown.
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Crowns made from porcelain materials can fracture, just like a tooth. Sometimes a fractured porcelain crown can be repaired but it is best to have a fractured crown replaced with a new crown when the time comes.
The crown you choose will depend on your desired outcome. Some crowns are placed for aesthetic reasons while others are placed to restore normal function.
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All-metal crowns are the best type of crown for back teeth. Metal crowns, either gold or other metals, required very little of the tooth to be removed during preparation. Metal crowns will not chip or fracture. However, most people do not like the look of metal crowns and are willing to compromise durability for aesthetics.
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Porcelain fused to metal crowns were traditionally the most popular type of crown. They are relatively strong and provide reasonable aesthetics. They can chip when abused and do require a substantial amount of tooth removal during preparation.
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Porcelain and ZIrconia crowns are the new choice for cosmetic dentistry. Although they are not as durable as all-metal crowns, they are certainly the best looking. All-porcelain crowns are mostly used on front teeth where aesthetic demand is the highest.
The most natural-looking crown is an all-porcelain crown. All-porcelain crowns reflect light very similar to a natural tooth.
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All-porcelain crowns can be used in standard circumstances. First, the tooth being crowned must not be too discoloured as the porcelain cannot mask very dark teeth. For dark teeth, porcelain fused to metal or zirconia crown must be used.
If a crown is chipped, sometimes the chipped porcelain can be replaced with a white (composite) filling. The filling will never be as strong as the original crown but may be worth attempting as the only alternative is to replace the crown.
Chipped crowns on back teeth can rarely be repaired successfully and therefore require replacement.
*There are risks associated with any surgical or invasive dental crown procedure. You should get a second opinion from a properly qualified health practitioner before proceeding.
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Fill in the form below to book your complementary consultation. Alternatively you can call us on (07) 3848 3193