Who Needs Dental Crowns and Why?
Dental crowns are designed to preserve the functionality of teeth that have been damaged or weakened in some way. This can include teeth that have been broken, fractured or cracked, as well as teeth that have decayed beyond the point where a filling would be useful. It may also be necessary to have a crown following root canal treatment, having an implant or having a bridge fitted. Crowns are a restoration technique, and add strength to the existing root of the natural tooth. They are necessary because they ensure that the damaged tooth can still work for eating and speaking. They are often called caps because they consist of a synthetic tooth which slips over the top of your natural tooth.
What does it Involve?
Dental crowns are very common dentistry jobs, and all London dentists should be able to fit them for you. The procedure will involve at least two trips to the dentist. After a consultation with your dentist, your teeth will be thoroughly cleaned before you are given a local anaesthetic. The damaged tooth is reshaped into a taper, which is the ideal shape for the crown to fit over. Once the tooth has been shaped, the dentist will take an impression from which the crown will be moulded at a dental lab. Because it can take a few weeks for the crown to be made, you will be fitted with a temporary crown to protect the tooth. Once the permanent crown is made, it is cemented onto the natural tooth.
The Improvement
The improvement with a dental crown is usually great. Not only will it leave you with a better working and healthier mouth, if you use a porcelain or ceramic crown the tooth can look very natural and be an aesthetic improvement. On the front teeth, a porcelain or ceramic crown is most common, giving a natural looking colour and shape. On the back teeth, the crown may be made of porcelain, ceramic, an alloy bonded to a porcelain coating or gold. Porcelain crowns are often expensive, but are very natural looking and strong, and the best choice for aesthetic improvement. The price of the crown will generally reflect the quality of the material.
Tags: Dental Crowns, functionality