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A porcelain crown is a tooth-shaped and coloured cap that is placed over a broken or damaged tooth to restore its structural integrity and cosmetic appearance. When a porcelain crown is fixed it completely protects the portion of the tooth that protrudes above the gum line.
Crowns are required for many reasons in dentistry. If a tooth has been weakened either because of a chip, crack or break a crown can be used to place over the remaining tooth to protect it from further damage. The crown therefore prevents the need for removal of the tooth and carries out all its natural functions.
Dentists also use crowns to hold in place fillings required due to tooth decay or root canal procedures. This extra security provided by a crown can prevent the need for any future dental treatment.
Crowns can also be used for cosmetic reasons. Teeth that are worn or unevenly spaced can be covered with specially designed, incredibly thin crowns which provide the appearance of healthy and well sized teeth. These thin crowns are a result of the advances in dental technology and can even be designed with a translucent appearance similar to that of real enamel. Computer aided technology has also significantly reduced the time needed to manufacture and install a crown. Using the latest digital imaging and 3D technology a dentist can design and manufacture a crown, using a computer guided mill, in as little as six minutes from a single piece of porcelain. This is an astonishing improvement on the days or even weeks of laboratory construction.
Dental crowns also now require less preparation than previously needed. Because they can be manufactured accurately and still be thin, not as much enamel needs to be removed to fix them. If you are suffering from a damaged or discoloured tooth ask a London dentist about the latest technology in the world of porcelain crowns.