Dental Crowns: Why You Might Need One and What to Expect
The short answer.
You may need a crown to protect a tooth that is badly damaged, decayed, worn or heavily filled, to restore a tooth after root canal treatment, or to hold a bridge or complete an implant.
Dental crowns are a popular restorative procedure to treat various dental issues, from severe staining to tooth fractures above the gumline. Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps cemented into the gumline to cover existing teeth or complete a dental implant restoration.
Dental crowns are available in various materials, including all-ceramic, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), and gold alloy. They are custom fabricated for maximum comfort.
Dental crowns can improve how a tooth looks, and they can also restore the functionality of your teeth. They work for front and back teeth, reinforcing the bite force of your molars or rejuvenating your smile with a front restoration.
Why Would You Need a Dental Crown?
A dental crown can help with a wide range of problems. Some of the most common oral health problems a dental crown can treat include:
Severely damaged or decayed teeth
If you damage your tooth in an accident or suffer severe decay, your tooth structure may be compromised. A crown can be placed over your weakened tooth, protecting it from further deterioration. If your tooth is cracked or fragmented, the remaining tooth is shaped and capped with a crown to restore its strength, function, and appearance.
A dental crown is typically used to restore a tooth after a root canal treatment.
Heavily worn teeth
Natural wear and tear, and bad habits like nailbiting and teeth grinding can cause your teeth to become worn and misshapen. Heavily worn teeth can make you lose confidence in your smile, making you self-conscious in social and professional situations. If left untreated, this type of damage may also affect your speech and ability to chew food.
Dental crowns fit over worn teeth, restoring their shape and colour. Tooth-coloured crown materials like ceramic and porcelain are durable and natural-looking and can renew your smile.
Good at-home oral hygiene habits, like regular brushing and flossing and routine dental visits, maintain the condition of your dental crowns for 15 or more years.
Damaged tooth with a large filling
Dental fillings are the primary treatment for tooth decay (another site). A large cavity or a tooth that has been treated multiple times weakens the tooth’s structure. If a lot of the tooth’s natural structure is damaged, a filling may be unable to restore the tooth to its full strength and function. In this case, a dental crown is a better restorative option.
Securing a dental bridge
A dental bridge uses one or multiple crowns (another site) to bridge a gap left by missing teeth. The bridge is essentially a false tooth, called a pontic, anchored by dental crowns attached to the abutment teeth on either side.
Completing an implant restoration
The final step of a dental implant procedure is to fit the artificial teeth. Dental crowns are a popular restoration option, providing implant patients with durable and realistic-looking teeth. A single crown is attached to the dental implant by a connector called an abutment. Multiple crowns are sometimes attached as a dental bridge.
Dental Crowns Before and After
Before the procedure
Once you have been prescribed a dental crown, your dentist will use a numbing gel to numb the site and administer a local anaesthetic to make you more comfortable. Your dentist then removes decay and shapes the tooth structure.
Your dentist takes an impression or scan of your tooth, and our own lab, upstairs at 7 The Strand, makes your custom dental crown. You will be fitted with a temporary crown to protect your tooth structure.
You will revisit the dental practice to have your temporary crown removed, and your permanent crown applied. Once all the adjustments have been made and your bite is checked, it will be cemented in place.
After the procedure
You may experience discomfort and sensitivity immediately after your dental crown procedure. Avoid hot or cold drinks until the sensitivity wears off. Don’t eat or chew on hard or sticky foods until your gums have fully recovered from the procedure. Take care when flossing; slide the floss between your teeth, rather than pulling or snapping the floss against your crowns.
Crowns at Dental Spot
If your smile is suffering from damaged, worn, or discoloured teeth, consider dental crowns from Dental Spot. Once your crowns are secure, you can smile, eat, and speak as normal. Our crowns are durable and stain-resistant, providing long-lasting results.
Sources
- Crowns, bridges and veneers (another site), Australian Dental Association
- Oral health and dental care in Australia (another site), Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- Dental bridge procedure (another site), healthdirect
This guide is general information, not advice about your own teeth. Your dentist can tell you what applies to you, including the risks of any treatment.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
