Dental Crown

If the crown of a tooth is so severely damaged that, for example, a filling or root canal treatment alone is no longer sufficient, a crown should be used. The crown is attached to the natural tooth with cement and covers the damaged tooth like a cap. The crown should adapt very well to the remaining part of the damaged tooth and strengthen it. This not only has an aesthetic benefit but also restores the entire masticatory system and protects against further damage. In some cases, the tooth must be extracted, and the resulting gap must be fully and permanently replaced with a dental implant and crown. This treatment should only be performed by specialists.

Crown Materials

Depending on the patient’s wishes, crowns can be made entirely of metal, porcelain with metal, porcelain with precious metal, entirely of porcelain, and zirconium. A crown made entirely of porcelain with metal may be the best choice for molars because it is harder. All-porcelain crowns and zirconium crowns can also be very good options for incisors. For the front teeth, not only the restoration of functionality but also aesthetics is just as important.

Preparation of a dental crown and the procedure for crown treatment

1. At the beginning of the treatment, patient’s x-ray will be taken, and the dentist will identify the dental problems and examine the tooth roots.
2. The prerequisites for dental treatment with crowns are healthy gums and intact jawbone. If the tooth is severely damaged or there is a risk of infection, the entire enamel coating of the tooth should first be removed and ground down to a hard stump. This creates space for the dental crown.
3. After reshaping the tooth, the dentist takes an impression of the prepared tooth using modeling clay. The dentist should ensure that the crown does not affect the bite. At the same time, the dentist and the patient determine the shade that is closest to the color of the neighboring teeth.
4. In the dental laboratory, the dental technician creates a model of the dental impression, and the crown is finished on the model.
5. At the second and possibly third appointment, the finished crown is checked and carefully inserted to completely cover and protect the damaged tooth.
6. The treatment is performed under local anesthesia, and it generally takes 3-4 days for the crown to fully anchor in the jaw.

The Risks of Crown Treatment and After Treatment

Due to pre-existing dental disease, gum inflammation can occur, especially under the crown. The additional stress caused by the crown could cause premature tooth loss. To prevent this, the specialist dentist may sometimes require gum treatment and/or jawbone augmentation before crown treatment. By choosing a specialized and professional dentist, these common problems can be minimized and prevented.

After dental crown treatment, you should brush your teeth twice a day for life and visit the dentist regularly. You should also take good care of the area under the crown to prevent problems such as bad breath and gum disease. With good care and oral hygiene, a crown will last for years.