A crown is a hollow shaped cap that fits over teeth, giving them strength. A crown also usually improves the appearance of teeth. Crowns are made of a variety of materials: all porcelain, porcelain bonded or precious metal (white/yellow gold).

Your dentist usually advises a crown if a tooth is extensively decayed, damaged, or discoloured. In order for a crown to fit a supporting tooth, the tooth is reduced in size, which allows for a more precise fitting. The procedure usually takes about 30-60 minutes per tooth and is pain free as it is done under local anaesthetic. The dentist takes an imprint of the tooth preparation and then sends an impression to the laboratory for construction. A temporary crown is fitted to maintain appearance, function and comfort of the prepared tooth, whilst the laboratory construct the crown.

A crown is a high tech product and the quality depends not only on the dentists’ skill but also the quality of the laboratory used to construct the crown. When a crown is fitted it is checked for appearance, fitting, shape, and the bite is also checked, to ensure the patients comfort and also to determine that the crown is aesthetically pleasing. The crown is then cemented in place with a strong dental cement.

On average, a crown in a well-maintained mouth will last about 10 years.

Please click here to see our gallery »