A dental crown is a dental restoration that is fitted over a tooth or teeth that have either been compromised structurally or are in need of cosmetic repair.
Modern crowns are made to be durable, comfortable and life-like and can improve the look of your teeth and smile.
Reasons a tooth needs a crown
- Too much filling: If a tooth has previously been filled and there is currently more filling than the tooth itself, then this is an indicating that the tooth needs a crown. This is because the existing tooth structure has become weaker and is no longer capable of supporting any filling.
- Root canal: A tooth or teeth are likely to become brittle and more susceptible to fractures after a root canal and require a crown to help strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure.
- Dental Implants: Crowns are used as the restorations that cap off and complete a dental implant.
- Cracked tooth syndrome: In case a person has cracked tooth syndrome, they also need crowns. This syndrome is characterised by teeth exhibiting pain when pressure is applied which is usually a sign of internal fracture. The best way of avoiding pain is placing crowns on teeth in order to ensure that cusps are held together.
Types of crowns:
Crowns are classified according to the material that makes them. For instance, we have all porcelain crowns, porcelain over metal crowns, Gold crowns, etc.
Not all Crowns - All Porcelain, Gold, or Porcelain over metal - are suitable for everyone. It is therefore the duty of a dentist to decide the type of crown that is most suitable for a patient. The main determinant is usually based on the patient's teeth i.e. if they are very weak or slightly weak or the aesthetic concerns of a patient and the tooth involved.