Treatment with crowns covers a wide range of procedures, but can have very varied causes. A single crown can help a broken or highly destructed tooth. However, the same type of treatment can also be used to ensure that root-treated teeth do not break. Teeth under heavy load, where a filling repeatedly breaks and is replaced, may also need a crown. Crowns can also be used for aesthetic reasons like veneers. Here, the typical reason is that one or more teeth do not have a satisfactory shape and/or color. Several tooth crowns that are connected are called a dental bridge. The treatment is used to replace one or more teeth and is typically an alternative to implant treatment. Treatment with both crowns and bridges is also often used in the treatment of severely worn dentition.
A dental crown is a cap made of porcelain or metal (typically gold) that is placed around a tooth. It can hold together a tooth with a crack, preventing the crack from worsening. The crown can also support a tooth that has undergone a root canal treatment and is therefore at a higher risk of fracturing. Due to the crown's durability, it can also be a suitable treatment for a tooth with a large filling that keeps breaking due to heavy stress. The crown is custom-made for each individual tooth. This is done by taking an impression of the tooth and then having the crown fabricated by a dental technician. The crown is bonded to the tooth with a special cement. It typically takes a couple of weeks from preparing the tooth to the completion and cementation of the crown. However, if special considerations are needed, the timeframe can be shorter.
The choice of material depends on the situation, but the vast majority of crowns we create at the clinic are made of a tooth-colored porcelain material. Depending on the requirements for the crown, different types of porcelain may be used. Some porcelain is highly aesthetic and closely mimics a natural tooth, making it suitable for front teeth. Other porcelain is very strong and is typically used on molars, where it needs to withstand chewing pressure.
We often do not realize how much teeth contribute to one's appearance. Studies have shown that a significant part of how we perceive other people is based on how they smile. If one is not satisfied with their teeth, they unconsciously avoid showing them when smiling. Teeth that do not look as desired can usually be treated. One of several treatment options may involve porcelain treatment. Sometimes, however, it may be sufficient to treat individual teeth with plastic. Teeth that have received many small plastic treatments over time may become dull and aesthetically unsatisfactory. A treatment with veneers and crowns can therefore be the solution to regain a beautiful and attractive smile.
A crown treatment typically requires the removal of a large portion of the tooth. In contrast, much less of the tooth is removed when creating veneers. This is because a veneer is porcelain that simply lays on the front of the tooth.
Veneer treatment can also be a good solution when one or more teeth have become discolored and do not match the rest of the teeth in the set. By applying some porcelain to the tooth, it can cover the discolored tooth. This gives a nice uniform appearance of the teeth again.