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Dental
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Check-ups and X-rays
Crowns
Fissure Sealants
Missing Teeth
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- Bridges
- Implants
Mouthguards
Root Canal Treatment
Sedation
Straightening Teeth
Veneers
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Hygienist
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Whitening
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What
are the important
things I need to know
about dental health?
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Crowns to restore the
natural look and strength of teeth
What is a crown?
Crowns are dental
restorations that fully cover, or 'cap', the natural tooth in order to
restore the tooth's shape or improve it's strength when it has been
heavily filled or damaged in an accident. Crowns can also be used
to improve the appearance of teeth that are stained, spaced or slightly
out of position where veneers
are considered unsuitable.
What
are they made from?
Crowns can be made from
metals such as stainless steel or gold, composite resin,
dental porcelain or a combination of porcelain and metal alloy.
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Full gold crown
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All ceramic crowns
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Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns
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How
long do they last?
At Dental Excellence* we believe that
crowns are one of the strongest restorations for heavily filled and root
treated teeth. We only use materials of the highest quality and
contract with dental
technicians that we know produce quality laboratory work. When
we place a crown or bridge we expect it to provide decades of service.
However, for this to become a reality you, the patient, need to take
proper care of your teeth and gums. While crowns are very durable,
plaque bacteria produce acids and toxins that can attack the tooth under
the crown and the gums around the crown causing it to fail prematurely.
What
if I don't crown a heavily filled or root treated tooth?
All
fillings weaken teeth to some degree. While newer bonded composite
resin ("white") restoratives have a lesser impact than silver
amalgam, any filled tooth may develop cracks over a period of
time. Root treated teeth especially become brittle due to the
absence of the natural pulpal fluids inside the tooth. As the
stress cracks at the base of the cusps get bigger the tooth may become
painful to bite on, the nerve inside the tooth may be so affected that a
root treatment is required or part of the tooth may break away.
Sometimes the tooth may split so badly that the tooth must be removed
and replaced
artificially.
What
are the benefits of having a crown?
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Improved strength of your tooth - the
crown will help prevent cracks
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Improved appearance of your tooth -
large fillings can be hidden under a natural looking ceramic crown
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Improved shape (contour) of your tooth
- the gum around the tooth will be healthier if the tooth has a
natural shape and there are no gaps between teeth that allow food to
get caught
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flossing your teeth can be easier if
large, rough fillings are eliminated
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worn down or chipped teeth can be
built up to their natural shape again
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discoloured teeth can be made to look
lighter and more natural again
Steps
in making crowns
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Root treated
teeth with gum recession. Dark root necks are visible above
the old crowns. The gums above the crowns are red and
swollen from the ill-fitting crowns.
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The old crowns
removed and the teeth prepared for new crowns. Gold
posts placed down the root
canals and cores build up the damaged teeth.
Impressions are made and the teeth protected with plastic
temporary crowns while the final crowns are manufactured.
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The new
all-ceramic crowns are tried in and checked for fit, colour
and shape. The new crowns are then cemented in
place with a permanent cement. A very natural look is
achieved with healthy gums at the crown margins.
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More
information:
New
Zealand Dental Association topic - crowns
American Dental Association topic - crowns |
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