An honorary crown for your teeth
04.04.10
Dental crowns are a treatment designed to protect and strengthen damaged, decayed or cracked teeth. You need one when the broken tooth has been weakened and doesn’t function as well as it should, for eating, talking or just aesthetics. The crown is often known as a cap, because it fits straight over the existing tooth so you get a strong, natural looking result. They are mostly made of porcelain, metal alloy, ceramic and gold.
When would you need one?
You would need a crown if your broken tooth has decayed too far or if it has a cavity that’s too big for a filling. You also need one if the tooth has fractured too badly to be built up by other techniques, and possibly following root canal treatment and implant or bridge treatment. A crown is rarely a first choice treatment, so your dentist will tell you if you need one. If it turns out you do, have no fear, there are loads of great Reading dentists who can fit one for you!
What’s the procedure?
On your first visit to the dentist, your teeth will be thoroughly cleaned and you’ll be put under local anaesthetic while your tooth is reshaped to a taper (the ideal shape to fit the crown over). The dentist then takes an impression of the newly shaped tooth to be sent to a lab, and they make the crown that fits your tooth perfectly. This can take a few weeks though, so in the meantime you’ll be fitted with a temporary crown to protect the tooth. When the permanent crown is ready, it’s just cemented over the existing tooth.
The Result
The result is a strong, healthy, natural looking tooth which works as well as any of your others.
Tags: honorary crown, teeth