Dental Crowns

A crown is a fake tooth that caps one of your natural teeth or a screw for an implants. They are typically made from either ceramic, porcelain, stainless steel, or an alloy (including gold). Naturally colored materials are much more discreet for those who prefer that option. Crowns are made in a dental lab, based on a mold that the dentist will take after prepping the area. While it’s being made, you will get a temporary crown.

There are several different problems that a crown can correct. Some of the most common reasons are:

• Strengthen a weak or fractured tooth
• Replace a tooth after a root canal
• Attaching an implant
• Cosmetic purposes
• Replace a filling that is too large for the remaining tooth

Some of these problems need immediate dental work, but others use a crown as a prevention of further problems down the road. We never advise getting a crown unless we feel like it is absolutely necessary.

For the crown to be placed over your existing tooth or dental implant, the dentist will need to do some modifications. For this part of the process you will be numb, so the worst of it will be the achiness you might feel after the feeling comes back.

The placement of a crown does not usually hurt. Most people complain when a temporary crown is removed and the permanent one is placed, when air hits the exposed nerves. This lasts for maybe a minute and doesn’t even require numbing. If you have a root canal, this isn’t even a concern since you don’t have feeling in those nerves anymore. For implants, the pain and swelling is managed with over-the-counter medicines.

Crowns are treated just like any other tooth. Stick to your daily oral hygiene regimen of flossing, brushing, and mouth wash. Make sure to come in for your regular dental check-ups twice a year. If there is a need to treat the tooth inside the crown, the dentist can just drill through it and fill it in when the work is done. You really don’t need to worry about doing anything special for your crown.

While you may not want to replace all your teeth with crowns, it isn’t something you need to be afraid of either. Crowns are a great way to
fix a handful of problems or potential problems.

When you’re getting a dental crown, you want it to blend in with your smile as much as possible. Each one of our dental crowns is made with porcelain dental ceramic. This material can be color-matched to go with the rest of your smile and is stain-resistant and durable. Crowns can last up to 30 years if they’re properly taken care of.

No, the crown will not be obvious and every attempt will be made to match your other teeth. Sometimes photographs are taken to ensure the laboratory technician creates the best possible match. In rare circumstances the patient is advised to meet with the technician in order to get the ideal result.

A temporary crown, usually made in plastic, will be fitted at the end of the first appointment to last until the permanent one is ready.  These temporary crowns may be more noticeable, but they are only in place for about two weeks.

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.

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. Here at Oldbury Smile Spa, we would only usually recommend crowns if your risk of tooth decay has been reduced.

Because the shape of the crown will be slightly different from the shape of your 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.  Sometimes the crown may feel slightly high in the bite.  Usually this will resolve within 10 days and the crown will need no adjustment.  If it still does not feel right after this time has elapsed then please ask your dentist to check and adjust it.

A veneer at the front of your mouth may be an alternative to having a crown if the tooth has only a small filling. Your dentist will advise you of any suitable alternatives.