 |
|
|
| |
 |
Dental
Crowns |
|
A dental crown can be best described as a ‘cap’ which
is positioned over an existing tooth to improve its appearance or strengthen
it. Once properly positioned, the dental crown is most often ‘cemented’ into
place and will completely cover the area of the tooth which is above the
gum line. A dental crown can be made from metal, ceramic or porcelain fused
metal. The type of dental crown which is suitable for your tooth will depend
on the reason for the dental crown.
|
|
 |
|
When
is a Dental Crown Suitable? |
|
| |
 |
A dental crown can strengthen and
protect a weakened tooth |
| |
|
A dental crown can be placed to restore a broken
tooth but holding the cracked tooth |
| |
|
together. |
| |
|
A dental crown can provide support
to a tooth which is severely worn down. |
| |
|
A dental crown may be used to a hold a dental
bridge in position. |
| |
|
A dental crown may also be considered for cosmetic
reasons such as to cover |
| |
|
a misshapen or severely discoloured tooth. |
|
How
long do crowns last? |
 |
It depends on your oral hygiene and habits. However, with good oral hygiene
and supervision most crowns will far out last that time frame. Bad habits,
such as
grinding and clenching your teeth, chewing ice, and/or fingernail-biting may
greatly reduce the life of your crowns. In addition to visiting your dentist
and brushing twice a day, cleaning between your teeth is vital with crowns. Floss
or interdental cleaners should be used regularly to remove plaque from the crown
area where the gum meets the tooth.
|
Advantages? |
|
|
|
 |
The presence
of implants stabilises bone loss at the implants site as it tricks the
body into thinking tooth roots are present. Many implants are still functioning
well after 20 years, although no guarantee can be given as to their longevity
as dentistry is not a precise science.
|
The
treatment plan for a patient receiving
a crown involves:
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
| When a tooth is fractured or has large old fillings, it might need
to be replaced with a crown. |
|
|
| First the doctor removes decay, and then shapes the tooth so that
crown can be placed on top of it. |
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
| The doctor will take on impression of the new shape of the tooth.
That impression will be send to a lab, where the permanent crown will
be shaped. |
|
|
| On a subsequent visit, you will have your temporary crown removed
and your permanent crown placed. Now you are on your way to a new and
beautiful smile. |
|
| |
|
Numbing the tooth to remove the decay
in or around it. |
| |
|
Re-sculpturing the tooth to provide an ideal fit for the crown. |
| |
|
Making an impression of your teeth in order
to create a custom-made crown |
| |
|
(usually takes two weeks). |
| |
|
Making a temporary crown out of acrylic resin
and fitting it onto the tooth during the |
| |
|
interim period when the permanent custom-made crown is being created. |
| |
|
Applying the permanent crown (when received from the lab) by removing
the |
| |
|
temporary crown and fitting the permanent one
onto the tooth. |
| |
|
After ensuring that the crown has the proper look and fit, the dentist
cements |
| |
|
it into place. |
| |
|
This process generally consists of a minimum of 2-3 visits over a three
to four |
| |
|
week period. |
Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing
and flossing, is required to maintain healthy, bacteria-free teeth, gums and
crowns. This helps in the prevention of gum disease. Given proper care, your
crowns can last a lifetime.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
