What are dental crowns used for?
Dental crowns have many uses, both cosmetic and general. Below, you can find some instances in which we may recommend patients have may have a dental crown made and fitted on one or more teeth:
- severe tooth damage
- advanced tooth decay
- cracks and chips
- a weakened tooth
- tooth discolouration
- a misshapen tooth
- an excessively worn tooth
- slightly misaligned teeth
- to finish a root canal treatment
- to secure a dental bridge
Top-quality dental crowns in Pennant Hills
The process for getting a dental crown
While the procedure may look a little different from one patient to another, depending on their specific case at hand, you can generally expect getting a crown to be carried out over two or three appointments and for the process to look something like this:
Appointment one
Your first appointment is your consultation appointment, during which your dentist will assess your dental care needs and what treatment would suit you best. If they decide the best treatment pathway for you requires a dental crown, they’ll explain to you exactly what it entails and get you booked in for the first step of the process.
Appointment two
This appointment involves the preparation of your tooth for receiving its crown. Before your dentist begins any part of the process, they’ll totally numb the area for your comfort. Preparing your tooth is necessary for the crown to be able to fit over it. Once the preparation is complete, your dentist will take an impression of your tooth that the dental laboratory can use to create your custom crown. Manufacturing your dental crown may take a couple of weeks. Because of this, during this appointment, your dentist will fit your tooth with a temporary crown for protection.
Appointment three
During your final appointment, your dentist will remove your temporary dental crown before fitting your permanent one. They will ensure a perfect fit in terms of colour, shape and size before bonding the crown in place. Once bonded, your dentist will do a couple of final bite checks and then you’re ready to go with your improved tooth!
Dental crown materials
We can produce crowns in several materials, each with a specific aesthetic and price point. Our experienced dentists at Pennant Hills Dental Centre can help you choose the best option for you. Below, you can find the dental crown materials and a brief description of each:
Metal: Made from gold or silver or a mixture of both, these long-lasting crowns are often recommended for molars.
Porcelain and metal: Some crowns are made from porcelain and then fused to metal for the benefit of both colour matching and durability.
Porcelain: All-porcelain crowns are the most popular choice, being strong and natural looking as well as biocompatible. They’re not quite as long-lasting as metal crowns but are the next best thing.
Resin: Composite resin crows can be colour matched to your surrounding teeth, but are not as strong as other options and may wear and tear.
Getting the most out of your dental crown
How long a crown lasts can depend on what it is made of and how you take care of it. Gold or metal crowns usually last the longest, but as they cannot be colour matched to your natural teeth, they’re rarely a choice for front teeth. Crowns made from porcelain or resin aren’t as strong as metal but can still last a long time when correctly cared for.
Below, you can find several ways of prolonging the service life of your crown:
- Brush teeth twice daily for 2 minutes
- Floss your teeth every day
- Use toothpaste with fluoride in it
- Consume a healthy, balanced diet
- Chew hard foods with caution
- Wear a bite splint if you clench your jaw or grind your teeth at night
- Wear a sports mouthguard when participating in contact sport
