Crowns can hold cracked teeth together and support bridges, and they are often applied as the final step in root canal treatment. They can also cover discoloured teeth to improve the appearance of your teeth.
A crown is likely to be required if there is no longer enough healthy tooth tissue left to sufficiently hold a filling or used to cover and protect damaged or weak teeth. They can also improve the appearance of misshapen or discoloured teeth and act as protective sleeve which fits over your remaining tooth. A crown may also be placed as the final stage following root canal treatment, as this has proven to be the most successful way of sealing and protecting the tooth.
Preparation time will vary depending on the condition of the damaged tooth. Your tooth will be carefully reshaped, to ensure that it can carry the crown. In most cases we will take a digital scan of the tooth. This is not only exceptionally accurate, but will also avoid the need for impressions to be taken, mitigating any discomfort. The scan is then received in our state-of-the-art digital laboratory where our team of technician’s use sophisticated computers to design your custom crown. These computers will then craft, mill and colour the crown to match the adjacent teeth. Treatment is usually provided over 2 visits. After the tooth is prepared and the digital scan is taken at the first appointment, a temporary crown is worn to protect the tooth for around 2 weeks while the crown is made.
A permanent crown can last between five and 15 years, depending on your habits, lifestyle and oral care routine. Teeth grinding can put pressure on a crown, leading to cracks and possible damage. If you know that you suffer from clenching or grinding, speak to your Hughes & Owen Dental Care dentist; they will be able to provide you with advice and possible solutions (such as a mouthguard) to help protect your crown and keep it looking its best into the future.
You can treat your crown like a normal tooth. While it does not require any particular care, remember that it acts as a sleeve over the top of your natural tooth and so decay and gum disease can still occur without a good oral health routine. Keep up regular visits to your local Burton-On-Trent dental practice and remember to continue to floss around the tooth. When flossing, try to pull the floss through your teeth rather than upwards – sometimes pulling up and out can catch on your crown and contribute to wear and tear.
If you think that you require crowns, or would like further information on the procedure, contact Hughes & Owen Dental Care on 01283 568817 (Burton-on-Trent) or 01283 217794 (Swadlincote).
If you would like to book an appointment with our Burton practice click below and fill in our booking form, and one of our team will be in touch to arrange an appointment.
If you would like to book an appointment with our Swadlincote practice click below and fill in our booking form, and one of our team will be in touch to arrange an appointment.
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