Q: What is a crown?

A: Crowns are an ideal way to rebuild teeth which have been broken, or have been weakened by decay or a very large filling. They can also be used to improve the appearance of teeth The crown fits right over the remaining part of the tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape and contour of a natural tooth. Crowns are sometimes also known as ‘caps’.

Q: Why would I need a crown?

A: There are a number of reasons. For instance:
1. the tooth may have been weakened by having a very large filling.
2. You may have discoloured fillings and would like to improve the appearance of the tooth.
3. You may have had a root filling which will need a crown to protect it.
4. You may have had an accident and damaged the tooth.
5. It may help hold a bridge or denture firmly in place.

Crowns can be made from tooth coloured porcelain, composite or metal. With recent advances in dental materials it is now possiblle to have metal free crowns for better aesthetics.

Q: How is a tooth prepared for a crown?

The dentist will prepare the tooth to the ideal shape for the crown. This will mean removing most of the outer surface, and leaving a strong inner ‘core’. The amount of the tooth removed will be the same as the thickness of the crown to be fitted. Once the tooth is shaped, the dentist will take an impression of the prepared tooth, one of the opposite jaw and possibly another to mark the way you bite together. The impressions will be given to the technician, along with any other information they need to make the crown.

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