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A Crowns are an ideal way to
rebuild teeth which have been broken, or have
been weakened by decay or a very large filling.
The crown fits right over the remaining part
of the tooth, making it strong and giving it
the shape and contour of a natural tooth. Crowns
are sometimes also known as 'caps'.
A There are a number of reasons.
For instance:
- the tooth may have been weakened
by having a very large filling
- you may have discoloured fillings
and would like to improve the appearance of the tooth
- you may have had a root filling
which will need a crown to protect it
- you may have had an accident and
damaged the tooth
- it may help hold a bridge or denture
firmly in place.
A Crowns are made of a variety
of materials and new materials are being introduced all the
time. Here are some of the options available at present:
- Porcelain bonded to precious metal:
this is what most crowns are made from. A precious
metal base is made and layers of porcelain are then
applied over it.
- Porcelain: these crowns are not
as strong as bonded crowns but they can look very
natural and are most often used for front teeth.
- Porcelain and composite: porcelain
and composite resin materials can sometimes look
the most natural. However, these crowns are not as
strong as bonded metal crowns.
- Glass: these crowns look very natural
and are used on both front and back teeth.
- Precious metal (gold and palladium):
these crowns are very strong and hard-wearing, but
are usually used at the back of the mouth, where
they are not visible
A The dentist will prepare
the tooth to the ideal shape for the crown. This
will mean removing most of the outer surface, and
leaving a strong inner 'core'. The amount of the
tooth removed will be the same as the thickness
of the crown to be fitted. Once the tooth is shaped,
the dentist will take an impression of the prepared
tooth, one of the opposite jaw and possibly another
to mark the way you bite together. The impressions
will be given to the technician, along with any
other information they need to make the crown.
A The impressions and
information about the shade of your teeth will
be given to a dental technician who will be skilled
in making crowns. They will make models of your
mouth and make the crown on these to be sure that
the crown fits perfectly.
A You will need to have
at least two visits: the first for the preparation,
impression, shade taking and fitting the temporary
crown, and the second to fit the permanent crown. |
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A No. A local anaesthetic
is used and the preparation should feel no different
from a filling. If the tooth does not have a nerve,
and a post crown is being prepared, then local anaesthetic
may not be needed.
A Post crowns may be used
when the tooth has been root filled. The weakened
crown of the tooth is drilled off at the level of
the gum. The dentist makes a double-ended 'post'
to fit into the root canal. This can be either prefabricated
stainless steel or custom made of gold. One end of
the post is cemented into the root canal, and the
other end holds the crown firmly in place.
A If a root-filled tooth
is not completely broken down, it may be possible
to build it up again using filling material. This
'core' is then prepared in the same way as a natural
tooth and the impressions are taken.
A The life of a crown
will depend on how well it is looked after. The
crown itself cannot decay, but decay can start
where the edge of the crown joins the tooth. It
is very important to keep this area as clean as
your other teeth, or decay could endanger the crown.
Properly cared for crowns will last for many years
- your dentist will be able to tell you how long.
A Once the fit and appearance
of the crown has been checked - and approved by
you - it will be cemented in place with special
dental cement. The cement also forms a seal to
help hold it firmly in place.
A Because the shape of
the crown will be slightly different from the shape
of you tooth before it was crowned, you may be
aware of it to begin with. Within a few days it
should feel fine, and you will not notice it. The
crown may need some adjustment if it feels higher
than the surrounding teeth. If it is at all uncomfortable
ask your dentist to check and adjust it.
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