Dental Crown

Before

After

A dental crown or dental cap is a custom made restoration that covers a tooth with sustained significant loss of structure. They are analogical to being a thimble capped over your finger. Dental crowns are used to restore teeth to a certain shape and size. They provide strength and improve the appearance of the tooth.

Benefits of Dental Crowns

• Protects severely damaged tooth or tooth weakened by decay, fracture, large fillings or root canal therapy from fracturing. Teeth with large fillings tend to "flex more" forcing the tooth apart possibly causing stress fractures
• Holds together cracked or weaken teeth and seal the tooth from decay
• Covers discolored and irregularities in teeth in improving cosmetic appearance
• Helps preserve the natural function and position of the teeth
• Restores tooth with large decay, cavities or filings
• Supports the replacement teeth in a bridge
• Restores and maintains natural bite
• Covers a dental implant
• Restore your smile

Ceramic Crown

Porcelain Crown

Types of Dental Crowns

• Metals used in crowns include gold alloy, other alloys (palladium) or a base-metal alloy (nickel or chromium). Compared with other crown types, less tooth structure needs to be removed with metal crowns, and tooth wear to opposing teeth is kept to a minimum. Metal crowns withstand biting and chewing forces well and probably last the longest in terms of wear down. Also, they rarely chip or break. The metallic color is the main drawback. Metal crowns are a good choice for out-of-sight molars.
• Porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns can be color matched to your adjacent teeth (unlike the metallic crowns). However, more wearing to the opposing teeth occurs with this crown type compared with metal or resin crowns. The crown's porcelain portion can also chip or break off.  Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns look most like normal teeth. However, sometimes the metal underlying the crown's porcelain can show through as a dark line, especially at the gum line and even more so if your gums recede. These crowns can be a good choice for front or back teeth.
• All-resin dental crowns are less expensive than other crown types. However, they wear down over time and are more prone to fractures than porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
• All-ceramic or all-porcelain dental crowns provide the best natural color match than any other crown type and may be more suitable for people with metal allergies. However, they are not as strong as porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns and they wear down opposing teeth a little more than metal or resin crowns. All-ceramic crowns are a good choice for front teeth. The all-ceramic crowns used at Dental4U Aesthetic clinic include the IPS Empress system and the new e-max crowns from Ivoclar Vivadent, Procera Nobel Esthetics from Nobel Biocare, and Cercon Smart Ceramic (Zirconium Crown) from Dentsply.
• Temporary versus permanent. Temporary crowns can be made in your dentist's office whereas permanent crowns are made in a dental laboratory. Temporary crowns are made of acrylic or stainless steel and can be used as a temporary restoration until a permanent crown is constructed by the dental laboratory.

Procedure for Dental Crowns Treatment

The course of treatment described here is one of several options available at our dental clinic. Consult your dentist to find out what the best solution is for you, given your specific condition.

• First evaluation and crowns tooth preparation
• A few X-rays may take to check the roots of the tooth receiving the crown and surrounding bone. If the tooth has extensive decay or if there is a risk of infection or injury to the tooth's pulp, a root canal treatment may first be performed.
• Local anesthesia is administered at the region for crown tooth preparation
• The natural tooth is reshaped to receive the new dental crown
• If a large area of the tooth is missing (due to decay or damage), a filling material will be used to "build up" the tooth to support the crown.
• Records are taken and approved with the patient to determine the color, bite, length and shape of the crown
• An impressions taken for a replicate model of the teeth
• This model is sent to HEXA CERAM dental laboratory where the individual personal crown is fabricated (The crown usually return from laboratory in 2 to 3 days).
• A temporary crown is placed on while the permanent crown is made
• Fitting of crowns on delivery
• The temporary crown is removed
• A quality assurance including check the fit and color of the permanent crown is done for any re-adjustments of the dental crowns
• If everything is acceptable, a local anesthetic will be used to numb the tooth and the new crown is permanently cemented in place. 

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Postoperative care Instructions for Dental Crowns

Both the preparation and placement of the temporary crown as well as the bonding of the permanent crown may cause some minor tenderness in the area. Some individuals may experience sensitivity in teeth. This sensitivity will disappear gradually over a few days to weeks.

1. Avoid chewing on or eating hard foods on the restorations for 24 hours from the time they were cemented
2. To help with discomfort or swelling rinse your mouth 3 times a day with warm salt water. (1tsp. of salt in 8oz of water)
3. Keep crown area clean to maintain tissue compatibility (the contour of the prosthesis must allow the surrounding tissue to conform to a natural, healthy position)
4. Some sensitivity in teeth may be experienced by certain patients. This sensitivity will disappear gradually over a few days to weeks. If teeth are sensitive
   • Avoid hot, cold or acidic food and beverages
   • Pain medication be taken as directed as long as there is no medical contradiction based upon your medical history
   • Use fluorides rinse and toothpaste for sensitivity teeth
   • Clean teeth properly

Care for Dental Crowns

Dental crowns require the same regular and consistent home and professional dental care, as your natural teeth to prevent decay at the tooth-dental crown junction. To provide optimum longevity for your restorations, please follow the home care tips below:

1. Brush after eating and before bedtime around the crown with a soft toothbrush, especially where the crown meets the gum line. At the gum line harmful bacteria can be accumulate to cause decay and gum disease.
2. Floss at least once to twice a day. Use the proxy brush or dental floss to remove plaque under and around these areas to maintain good oral hygiene. Build up of food debris and plaque on your teeth and gums can become infected.
3. Rinse with fluoride rinse before bed. Swish the fluoride rinse vigorously in your mouth for at least one minute. Do not swallow any of the rinse and do not eat or drink anything for 30 minutes
4. Be careful about chewing toffees, gum, grainy rolls and tough food in this area
5. See your dentist for regular professional check-ups and cleanings