What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a small synthetic shell – usually made from porcelain, that is placed over a natural tooth to help with various structural problems, they are sometimes referred to as ‘caps’ because of the way they encase the whole of the tooth, rather than just sitting in front of them, like a veneer, or filling some space inside them, as a filling would. Crowns are widely used in the dental industry, and their performance continues to improve as modern technology moves forward in leaps and bounds, they are normally made from very strong, treated porcelain, which is resistant to damage and staining, and can last for decades without deteriorating in appearance or functionality.

How are dental crowns used in treatment?

There are various ways that crowns have proved useful since they were first developed, but they are particularly good at providing strength to the structure of the natural tooth, which may be necessary following some type of dental surgery, like a root canal. Some dentists might use a crown to improve the overall appearance of their patients smile, but they are much more than just an aesthetic tool; let’s take a look at the way crowns are used in day-to-day operations;

For strength – Using a crown to strengthen a fractured tooth is a great way to avoid an extraction; it provides an extra shell of protection over fragile areas, and can keep the tooth functional. If the outer layers of the tooth have been significantly damaged, it is important to create that barrier between the nerve centre and the outside elements, otherwise the inner pulp will become infected and eventually die, leading to a root canal and typically an extended period of toothache for the patient.

You might think that broken teeth have to be removed right away, but if there is still a good amount of structure remaining and the root has not been damaged too much, then it is possible to save the fragments using a dental crown. In the same way as with a fractured tooth, a crown provides a strong extra layer that can keep the area free of bacteria and it also makes the tooth look much nicer next to its neighbours. If decay is the problem, an extraction can still be avoided if a crown is fitted in good time, before the complaint has spread further into the root system.

Even after a root canal, it doesn’t necessarily mean the tooth needs to be extracted; a porcelain cap can help even dead teeth retain some functionality, although they won’t be as sensitive to temperature changes as they have no nerve endings. It is generally much more expensive to fit a synthetic tooth than it is to try and save a damaged one, so most dentists are likely to go with this method than a more invasive surgical technique, like dental implants.

Metal crowns can also be very useful with the molars, as they are the teeth that are expected to withstand much more wear and tear than the incisors; a great deal of pressure is put on the molars as we bite and chew, so it’s a good idea to use a highly durable material that can cope with it for a long period of time.

To improve the appearance of the teeth – It’s not often that an entire set of crowns are fitted over discoloured or misaligned teeth – most clinics would suggest veneers first – but they can be used to change the shape and proportion of several teeth, whilst at the same time offering them secure protection from bacteria and food debris inside the mouth. Placing a whole jaw-full of crowns would be very costly, and it would require quite a lot of reconstruction for the natural teeth, in order to fit them comfortable, so it’s more than likely that veneers would be chosen over numerous crowns, in this type of case. However, there are some structural problems that can’t be dealt with using veneers, and the dentist might use a combination of the two over the course of the treatment, as crowns can often give a more aesthetically pleasing finish, due to the fact that they cover all of the teeth, not just the front of them.

Lots of people all over the UK have dental caps fitted for functional reasons, and also to make their teeth look nicer; if you think this method could help you improve your smile, give the team at the Pearl Dental Clinic a call today, and get your treatment moving right away.

As an alternative to a filling – Not all problems with decay can be fixed by simply placing a filling, in some cases this can weaken the tooth rather than strengthen it, more specifically if it is a very large cavity that needs filling. If a substantial section of the tooth has been removed to get rid of the rotten area, there may not be enough layers to hold the tooth together around the filler material. This is not a problem that normally affects smaller cavities, but bigger ones can leave the patient with more filling than tooth, and it won’t be able to perform in the same manner as the remaining healthy teeth.

In addition, it is common practice to fill a cavity and then place a cap over the top of it, thus using both techniques to give the tooth the best chance of survival, however, if the filling is very large, it will act as a wedge inside the structure, which will eventually lead to fractures forming around the edges of it. If this process is left to continue, the tooth will start to break apart – and probably cause some pain – underneath the crown. A better method is to clean out the empty cavity and place a cap over it, without adding a filling first; this takes the pressure off the breakage and spreads it more evenly over the surface of the crown, allowing the tooth to function as normal, whilst at the same time preventing on-going damage.