Dental Crowns dentist in London
Q. What is a crown?
A. Well, crowns are the best way to reconstruct teeth that are chipped off or that have become weak due to decomposition or an extremely large filling. Now a crown is fixed on top of the left over tooth, rendering it sturdy and providing it with a natural tooth’s shape and form. Crowns are at times called ‘caps’.
Q. Why would I need a crown?
A. Well, there are several reasons. For example:
- the tooth might have become weakened due to an extremely big filling
- you wish to enhance your tooth’s appearance since you have stained fillings
- you have undergone a root filling that requires a crown to shield it
- you met with an accident and your tooth is damaged
- it may assist in securely holding in place a denture or bridge.
Q. What are crowns made of?
A. Different kinds of materials are used in crowns and there are new materials being developed constantly. The following are a few of the alternatives available today:
Porcelain fused with precious metal: in fact the majority of crowns are manufactured from this. A precious metal foundation is created and porcelain layers are then smeared on top of it.
Porcelain: crowns made from this are not very tough in comparison with bonded crowns. However, they appear very real and are frequently used for anterior teeth.
Porcelain & composite: crowns made of materials containing porcelain & composite resin can at times appear like the real thing. But, when compared with bonded metal crowns, these crowns are far less sturdy.
Glass: crowns made of glass seem extremely natural and are fixed on both anterior and posterior teeth.
Precious metal (palladium and gold): such crowns are extremely tough and durable, but are generally fixed towards the back of your mouth, where they normally are undetectable.
Q. How is a tooth prepared for a crown?
A. Well the dentist shapes the tooth so that the crown perfectly goes over it. This indicates that a large part of the tooth’s outer surface is removed so that only a tough inner core is left. The amount of your tooth taken out is equal to the new crown’s thickness. After shaping the tooth, the London dentist takes the prepared tooth’s impression, one of the jaw on the other side and perhaps another to indicate how you bite together. Now these impressions are dispatched to the technician together with any necessary details they require for crown fabrication.
Q. Who makes the crown?
A. Now the tooth impression and details regarding the patient’s teeth color are sent to the dental technician who is specialized in making crowns. The technician creates models of the patient’s mouth and fits the crown over these to ensure that the crown is a perfect fit.
Q. Will the crown be noticeable?
A. Not at all. The crown is fabricated to closely match the other teeth. The adjacent teeth color is duly registered to ensure the crown color appears real and corresponds to the color of the neighboring teeth. A provisional crown, generally made of plastic, is fixed at the close of the initial visit and is worn till such time the permanent crown is made. These provisional crowns may be quite visible, but they have to be worn for a couple of weeks only.
Q. How long does the treatment take?
A. A minimum of two appointments is required - the initial one for the tooth preparation, impression, color recording and fixing the provisional crown, and the next one to fix a crown that lasts for life.
Q. Does it hurt to have a tooth prepared for a crown?
A. Not at all. Local anesthesia is given and the tooth preparation feels just like filling. In case the tooth has no nerve then a local anesthesia is not required, as the tooth will be fitted with a post crown.
Q. Are post crowns different?
A. If your tooth is root filled then a post crown becomes necessary. At the gum level the enfeebled tooth crown is bored off. The dentist creates a post that is dual-ended to be put into the tooth’s root canal. Now this post can be pre-manufactured stainless steel or specially made of gold. Then the post’s one end is cemented into your tooth’s root canal, while the other end securely grips the crown in position.
Q. Are there any alternatives to post crowns for root-filled teeth?
A. In case a tooth that is root-filled is not broken down totally, then there are chances of reconstructing it by making use of filling material. Then this ‘core’ is prepared much like an original natural tooth and an impression is taken of it.
Q. How long will a crown last?
A. A crown’s life span is based on well it is maintained. While the crown is not subject to decomposition, but rot can set in where the crown’s edge meets the tooth. Now it is extremely vital to ensure that this part is kept just as thoroughly clean as the other teeth, or the crown may face the risk of decay. If the crowns are looked after very well, then they will survive for a number of years – your Baker Street dentist will let you know just how long they last.
Q. How are crowns fixed to teeth?
A. When the crown’s fit and look has been examined – and you give your approval – it then is cemented into place using unique dental cement. Moreover, the cement creates a covering to keep the crown securely in position.
Q. Will the crown feel different?
A. Initially you may feel a difference since the crown shape will be marginally different from your tooth shape prior to crowning. However, in a couple of days it feels all right and you will no longer become aware of it. If the crown seems higher than the adjacent teeth, then it requires some modification. However, if you feel very discomfited, request your Baker Street dentist to examine and modify it.
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