Dental Crown

What is a dental crown?

A crown is a fixed component that replaces the visible area of the tooth that has been lost. They’re utilised to repair a tooth that has been fractured, weakened, or extensively filled. They can also be utilised to enhance the look of discoloured or misaligned teeth, however, this is a more invasive procedure than veneers or direct bonding. Crowns can be composed of a variety of materials, including pure metals, porcelain (which is tooth-coloured), or a combination of the two.

The dentist takes an impression of the tooth once it has been prepped, which is then submitted to the laboratory for the crown to be manufactured. This generally takes approximately a week, and the dentist will secure the tooth with a temporary crown during that time.

What are the chances of success?

If you take care of your crown, it should last for at least 10 years. As it is a mechanical prosthesis that is placed in the mouth, it must be cared for and maintained on a regular basis by both the dentist and the patient to ensure success. Based on recent research, teeth that have been prepped for crowns have a 20% probability of dying off (pulp death) within 10 years.

What are the benefits?

A crown is a robust restoration that can mimic the appearance and feel of a natural tooth. The colour and form may be customised to match your natural teeth. With a crown, a significantly broken down tooth can be totally repaired and functional once again.

My crown is going dark at the margin, why is this?

Metal-under-porcelain crowns frequently develop a black band where the crown meets the gum line. This may be rather unpleasant, and it’s one of the most prevalent reasons for crown replacement.

The reason this happens is due to a number of potential Factors:

The gums can recede and shrink, exposing the black metal border beneath the porcelain.

The gums may recede, exposing parts of the tooth’s base, which is generally quite black.

It’s possible that some of the porcelain has broken away, exposing the metal.

Can I have my crowns replaces?

The dentist will need to assess the condition of the tooth below using a dental x-ray to ensure that replacing the crown is safe and that the root is in great shape.