Crowns and Veneers

What is a Ceramic Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a hard, ceramic cap or cover for a tooth that protects it from breakage and restores the natural shape and appearance of the tooth. The crowns often cover the entire surface of a tooth, down to the gum line, to essentially give you a brand new, strong tooth. The crowns are made in a local laboratory by an expert technician and are made of a high strength porcelain. Crowns are designed to fit your teeth precisely and are expected to last much longer than fillings – between 15 and 20 years.

Why are Dental Crowns needed?

A dental crown is used for the following reasons:

• To restore a heavily broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely weakened by tooth decay (cavities)

• To protect a weak tooth from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth

• To hold a dental bridge in place

• To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t a lot of tooth left

• To cover a dental implant

• To cover mis-shapen or severely discoloured teeth

• To keep a tooth strong after root canal treatment

• To improve the appearance of the teeth – especially at the front of the mouth

How are Dental Crowns placed?

First, a tooth is prepared so that the crown can cover it entirely and sit perfectly. This is similar to the first stage of a filling. A digital scan of your mouth is then taken and sent to a lab where the new tooth is made. The construction of the crown takes 2 weeks, so a temporary crown will be made for you to wear in the meantime. These tooth-coloured temporary crowns will be fixed onto your tooth and can be used just like a normal tooth. After two weeks, we take the temporary crown off your tooth and cement the shiny new crown. After a few checks, everything is done.

Do Dental Crowns hurt?

Getting a crown should be no more uncomfortable than having a filling. They take longer, but you also get more breaks, so you won’t have your mouth open for the entire appointment.