Dental Crowns

Experts in Dental Crowns

A dental crown replicates the shape, contours and size of your tooth and is used to completely cover or cap an existing damaged tooth, which may have resulted from decay and/or a broken tooth. The dental crown is permanently cemented onto the existing tooth or implant and is used to strengthen the damaged tooth or to improve the appearance of the tooth. They can also provide a functional purpose of assisting with chewing.

Why would I need a dental crown?

Dental crowns are recommended following root canal treatment and/or if the damaged tooth is too weak to support the teeth around it.

Consider your teeth as structural supports for each other. Once one of the teeth begins to break down or weaken, it can have the similar affect on the surrounding teeth. A dental crown serves to restore the strength to the damaged tooth but also maintain the integrity of the teeth surrounding it.

A dental crown may also be recommended if you need to replace an old filling and there is not much of the original tooth remaining, or to restore a fractured tooth.

Your dental crown will serve several purposes:

1. Strengthen an existing tooth
2. Provide structural support to surrounding teeth
3. Improve / enhance your visual appearance
4. Assist with chewing, which is important for digestion.

What types of dental crowns are there?

Dental crowns are now made metal free, which avoided the black line along the gum margin. We now use zirconia for most crowns as it is very strong and is tooth coloured. Zirconia crowns can be made very thin to avoid excessive tooth reduction.

How long should a dental crown last?

With proper care, a dental crown should last at least 10 years. Regular dental checkups with your dentist will help to prolong the life of your crown as any dental issues can be identified and addressed early.