Dental Crowns

Above: Before & After pictures of Dental Crowns

What are Dental Crowns?

A dental crown sits over the top of an already existing tooth, replacing the visibility of the tooth completely. The purpose of the crown may not be just to restore a tooth or improve its appearance but to restore strength and function to an otherwise damaged or weakened tooth.

Dental crowns are also used to support dental bridges using a metal framework and placed over the top of dental implants to serve as a new tooth.

Dental Crowns vs. Veneers vs. Bridges

If you are putting a crown on a tooth that is somewhat healthy, a lot of this healthy tooth will need to be removed to accommodate the crown so a dentist may prefer other less extreme options.

While crowns are placed on top of existing teeth (or an implant), bridges replace missing teeth with the same materials used to make a crown. The tooth replacement is supported by the teeth on either side of the missing teeth. It is not only aesthetically pleasing but fully functional and avoids the problems associated with missing teeth.

For teeth that are visually unappealing because of damage, discolouration or bad shape, a veneer is a thin piece of material that mimics the appearance of good looking healthy teeth. This is placed over the front of the tooth and can last anywhere between 5 and 15 years depending on the materials and quality used.

Types of Dental Crowns

There are a few different types of materials used for crowns, each at their own expense and with pros and cons.

Porcelain fused to metal

Crowns made of porcelain fused to metal are a good balance between a look that is close to your natural teeth and a strength that has a decent resistance to cracks. They will however be subject to wear, particularly from opposing teeth.

All Ceramic/All Porcelain

These types of crowns will match the colour and look of your natural teeth the most. They are however not as strong as other crowns and will also subject the adjacent teeth on the opposing gum to significant wear over time.

Metal

Crowns made of metal are by far the strongest, being the most resistant to cracks, outlasting all other crowns. They will also be more resistant to wear from adjacent teeth on the opposing gum than other crowns. The biggest problem with metal crowns is that they are the colour of the metal they are made of which means they will stand out amongst the colour of your natural teeth. This will not be a problem if you have a preference for the metal capped tooth or if your crown is not so visible.

Metal crowns can be made of gold, palladium, nickel and more.

All Resin

These are the cheapest of all the crowns but also the weakest being more susceptible to cracking, wear and tear.

The Procedure for Crowns

The first appointment with your dentist will be spent discussing the different types of options that may be suitable for you before deciding on the type of crown. An X-ray will be taken of your mouth to establish the extent of damage to your teeth and what other work is required e.g. root canal.

Once the type of crown has been established the dentist will make an impression of the crown. This is done by filing the tooth down enough to accommodate the crown. Putty is then put around this new reshaped tooth and also around the tooth on the adjacent bite. These form the impression for the new crown. You might be wondering about the filing of the teeth. Does it hurt? The dentist deals with this by numbing the entire area around your tooth and administering gas to relax you and ease the pain.

The newly made impression is sent to a laboratory where the crown is made, this can take a few weeks. The dentist will insert a temporary crown on the spot, this will be in position until the permanent crown is made and inserted. Temporary crowns are generally made of acrylic material or a stainless steel.

On the second appointment the crown has now been delivered from the laboratory to your dentist, ready to be placed in position. Acid is applied to the tooth which creates a rough clean surface ideal for strongly sealing the crowns cement. The crown is put into place for both the dentist and you to review its aesthetic appeal. If you are both satisfied with the new crown, it is positioned into place using the cement.

How much do Crowns Cost?

Firstly, you should check if your health insurance will cover any part of the crown. Crowns will generally cost up to $2000 per crown and other costs such as those for the appointments and the potential need for a root canal need to be considered.

They will between 10 and 15 years.