What is a dental crown?

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over your tooth. It’s a permanent solution and once it’s fixed in place, a crown should look, feel and function just like any other tooth.

Crowns are usually needed if you have a damaged or weakened tooth that can’t be fixed with a filling. Sometimes people have crowns for cosmetic reasons, but mainly it’s due to a lack of remaining tooth structure. Most commonly, this is because a tooth has had a large filling, sustained a fracture or has become weaker due to root canal treatment

What are crowns made from?

Depending on where in your mouth a crown is being fitted, tooth crowns can be made from one or a combination of the following materials:

• Porcelain: Porcelain crowns are usually used for teeth near the front of your mouth, as the material looks the most similar to a natural tooth. Porcelain is also used when a patient has a metal allergy.
• Zirconia: Fillings are used to fill cavities that have formed in your teeth. They help to stop toothache and prevent further decay. There are different types of fillings but the most common are amalgam (metal) and composite, which match the colour of your teeth.
• Metal alloy: Sometimes crowns are made of a combination of metals including nickel, palladium and chromium. Metal alloys rarely chip, are resistant to wear and tear and only require a minimal amount of natural tooth to be removed. They’re usually used for out-of-sight teeth, as they’re not as aesthetically pleasing as porcelain or ceramic.

If you need a crown, Please talk to our dentist so you can make a decision that’s right for you.