Dental Crowns

What are Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns, most just described as “Crowns” are used for:

• Restoring a chipped, cracked or worn-down tooth
• Protecting a weak tooth
• Supporting a dental bridge
• Covering a tooth with a large filling
• Covering a dental implant
• Covering misshaped or discoloured teeth
• Aesthetic preference.

Types of  Crowns

There are many different dental crowns available and they related to the type of material used in the construction, including;

• Metal
• Porcelain-fused-to-metal
• Resin
• Ceramic.

Resin crowns are a more affordable option compared to other crown types,  but they wear down over time and are more susceptible to fractures than crowns made from other materials.

Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are a more popular choice as they can be colour-matched to your natural tooth. There is a chance that the porcelain will chip or break, and they also cause more wear to opposing teeth than all-metal crowns.

Metal crowns are the most long-lasting kinds available. They rarely chip or break, and they cause minimum wear to other teeth. Because of their distinctive metal colour, these crowns are best for molars.

Ceramic or porcelain crowns are not as strong as metal or porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, but they provide the best natural colour match, usually used on front teeth.

Zirconia crowns offers enhanced durability and strength. Tooth caps/crowns using zirconia last longer than porcelain. Zirconia dental restorations look very natural and are more translucent so the cap reflects light in the same manner as natural teeth.

Application of a Crown?

A crown procedure requires a local anesthetic. After your procedure is over and the anesthesia has worn off, you may feel some sensitivity or some soreness in the gums around the tooth with the temporary crown. The pain is generally minimal and short lived.

Your dentist will make you comfortable during a crown procedure by numbing your tooth. A topical anesthetic will be applied to your gum before the anesthetic is given. You may feel a small pinch. Getting a dental crown placed involves several steps, and any of these may cause pain or discomfort.

Preparing a tooth for a crown generally requires two visits to your dentist. The initial visit involves examining and preparing the tooth and the second involves the placement of the crown.

During the first visit, your dentist may take X-rays to examine the roots of the tooth and its surrounding bone to ensure there is no decay or risk of infection. They will then inject a local anaesthetic to numb the area before filing the tooth to make room for the crown.

Once the tooth has been reshaped, the dentist will make an impression of the tooth with paste or putty. This impression will be the model of your crown, which will be made within 2-3 weeks. In the meantime, your tooth will be fitted with a temporary crown to protect the prepared tooth.

At your second visit, your dentist will remove your temporary crown and cement your permanent crown into place, ensuring the fit and colour is suitable.

A dental crown will work just like a natural healthy tooth. They withstand normal biting and chewing forces just like a regular tooth, though they do require maintenance and replacement as they can become loose over time.

How Much Do Dental Crowns Cost?

The cost of a dental crown can depend on which tooth requires the crown and which material you prefer for your crown (e.g. porcelain crowns are usually more expensive than gold crowns). In Australia, the price range for a single crown is generally $1100-$2000. Dental crowns are expensive which ever way you look at it. The main reason for the cost being so high is that the dentist must pay a dental technician to construct the crown