Dental Caps | Oxfordshire & Hampshire
Dental crowns are an effective way to repair an injured tooth, and they have several key benefits for your oral health. A crown can make the difference between saving a natural tooth and having it extracted. Imogen Dental offers dental crowns at both their surgeries in Benson and Kingsclere. Dental Crowns not only repair damaged teeth, but they also help to restore a healthy, functional, and beautiful smile.
What IS A Dental Crown?
A “dental crown” is a term familiar to most people, though some refer to it as a “cap.” They are essentially metal or porcelain sleeves which fit over the tooth. Dental Crowns serve to restore a tooth’s shape and size, increase its strength, or enhance performance. In a successful procedure, the crown is cemented into place, perfectly encasing the tooth for full protection.
Why Would I Need A Dental Crown?
If your tooth has suffered too much damage or decay to support a filling, or if there is too large a cavity and a filling would be too obvious, a crown may be a more practical option for providing protection. In cases where you have a dental implant, a crown may be fitted onto the implant.
People who have very worn down teeth, due to damage from grinding, erosion or abrasion, can in severe cases, find that having a crown is the only viable option to prevent further destruction.
The aesthetic appearance of your smile can be improved by a dental crown where there are gaps, severely broken, diseased or discoloured teeth. However, there are risks as well as benefits with crowns and their appropriateness for you, needs to be discussed with your dentist.
What Are Dental Crowns Made OF?
Crowns can be made from a variety of materials including metals, porcelain and ceramics. Some patients opt for a crown made from metal, but in most cases, porcelain or ceramic is used as these give a more natural and pleasing appearance. The shade of this artificial or ‘crowned’ tooth can also be matched to your other teeth.
Depending on what type of crown you opt for, there are varying costs and we are happy to discuss this with you at your initial consultation.
How Are Dental Crowns Fitted?
Preparation time will vary depending on the condition of the damaged tooth. The tooth will be reshaped, to ensure that once the crown is fitted, it remains the same size and shape as the natural teeth. It may also need to be built up with a filling first. A local anaesthetic is usually given prior to preparation, to avoid any discomfort.
After preparation, an impression is taken of the tooth to be crowned and nearby teeth, using a soft mouldable material. This impression is given to a dental technician, who uses it to build your crown to the exact size and shape required. This will ensure that the crown fits comfortably and looks natural. When using porcelain crowns, the colour will also be matched to the natural teeth.
Whilst the crown is being made, a temporary crown will be fitted. This will not be as strong as the final crown, but can still be chewed upon.
Once the crown is ready, it will be tried in place and small adjustments made to ensure a comfortable bite is maintained. Once you and your dentist are happy, the crown is glued in place. Crowns are sometimes held in place with a small post in your root canal if there is a lot of the original tooth missing.
IS Preparation For A Dental Crown Painful?
No. Local anaesthetic is used and the preparation should feel no different from a filling. If a tooth does not have a nerve following root canal treatment, then a local anaesthetic may not be needed.
How Do You Look After Your Crown?
The crown can last for many years if good oral hygiene is maintained, depending on the condition of the original tooth. Additional care should be taken to keep the crown and surrounding area clean. Your dentist or dental hygienist will recommend an appropriate home care regime.
The crown itself cannot decay, but decay can start where the edge of the crown joins the tooth. It is therefore important to clean this area thoroughly as you would with your natural teeth. Your crown will last longer if you look after it well.
Are Dental Crowns Noticeable?
Your dentist will match the crown as closely as possible to the other teeth, in size, shape and colour. This should ensure that it fits comfortably and looks natural. Crowns may also be gold or silver coloured, usually placed at the back of the mouth.
How Much Do Dental Crowns Costs?
The cost of your Dental Crown will depend on the materials used and, to some extent, the position of the tooth being capped. Often, front teeth crowns cost slightly more than back teeth, since more time is taken in the lab to make them look as natural as possible. The price of your treatment will be explained to you during your appointment and you can also find information on this on our fee guide page.
Dental Crown Appointment
Getting a permanent dental crown will typically involve at least two appointments. In some instances, there may be a need for a third visit. However, this would typically only be if there is an issue at the fitting appointment with the new dental crown that was custom-made for you.
If you would like to book a dental crown appointment or have any questions which have not been addressed above, our dental team in Benson or Kingsclere are ready and waiting to speak with you and help provide you with any further details that you may need.