Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a ceramic or gold tooth-shaped “cap” designed to fit and cover a tooth that needs restorative treatment. The crown is securely placed on the tooth using a special adhesive fully covering the entire visible part of the tooth, offering a better aesthetic and long term function.

Dental crowns are designed to offer a long term solution, with the correct care and maintenance a crown can last up to 15 years before it needs replacing.

When will a crown be used?

Repair a damaged tooth: For patients who are suffering from a broken or cracked tooth, a dental crown provides a practical solution to restoring it to a healthy and more functional state.

Protect a tooth with a large cavity: A cavity is a hole in the tooth often as a result of decay. Small cavities are commonly treated with traditional fillings which fill the hole and restore the tooth. Larger cavities will need to be treated with a crown as a traditional filling will not provide enough stability to support the tooth long term. The tooth will be cleaned of debris and build up before a crown is placed over the tooth, protecting it from further decay and risk of infection.

Cover a severely discoloured tooth: Teeth whitening is often a great solution for anyone looking to brighten their teeth. However, in the event of a dead tooth or a case of severe discolouration, teeth whitening might not be an effective treatment option. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a beautiful, white smile. Using a dental crown and innovative eLAB shade management technology, we can design and create a cap that looks completely natural and indistinguishable.

Protect a weak or cracked tooth: When a tooth is weak or cracked, a dental crown can be fitted to protect it from further damage or complete loss. The cap we create will hold together parts of a cracked tooth, completely restoring it to its natural function.

Modify the shape or size of a tooth: If you are unhappy with the shape or size of your teeth, we can provide a “smile makeover” using dental crowns. Veneers are often used to improve the aesthetics of the front teeth but for one’s located further back in the mouth, a crown is a more viable solution.

The fitting of a crown is a routine procedure performed under local anaesthesia, offering a pain-free experience. Treatment can normally be completed within 1 or 2 sessions, however, this entirely depends on the clinical situation. In some cases, additional treatment might be necessary, such as root canal treatment or gum therapy. The stages you can expect throughout treatment are as follows:

Stage 1 – Investigation

The first stage of treatment is a full examination of your current situation to determine if there are any underlying dental problems that might affect treatment. If a tooth is badly decayed and there is a risk of infection, a root canal will need to be performed first. This is a common procedure and can be carried out by a general dentist.

Once treatment has been determined as an effective and safe solution, we can begin the process of preparing the tooth and the creation of your crown.

Stage 2 – Tooth and Crown Prep

We will begin by removing a very thin layer of the outer surface of the tooth known as the enamel. Ensuring your crown is fitted securely and comfortably. This will be carried out under local anaesthesia to ensure you don’t experience any pain. More often than not this stage is not needed as the enamel has already been lost and is the reason a crown is required.

Next, we will take an impression of your teeth using a mould to send to our onsite laboratory for your crown to be prepared. Here at Revitalise, we have a team of skilled technicians at our dedicated onsite lab, allowing us to significantly reduce the length of your treatment.

Stage 3 – Placing the crown

After the crown has been prepared, the final stage is to securely place it onto the tooth using a strong adhesive. We will then check your bite is correct, make sure you are happy with the way it looks and make any final adjustments if necessary.

Recovering from treatment after receiving a crown can take a few days, however, your day to day life should not be affected. It’s common to experience sensitivity and slight swelling after treatment, but this should clear up quickly.

If a local anaesthetic was used it is important to avoid eating and consuming hot drinks until the effect has worn off. This is to avoid potential burns or accidental biting due to the numbing sensation.

Looking after your crown going forward will require no special techniques or treatment, maintaining a good standard of oral hygiene is key to your crowns longevity. This includes brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day paying extra attention to the crown to prevent plaque buildup and tooth decay. It’s important to continue to have regular check-ups with your general dentist and hygienist to ensure your teeth remain healthy for years to come.