Crowns

Crowns

A crown is an artificial restoration that fits over the remaining part of a prepared tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape and appearance of a natural tooth.

These can be made from Porcelain, Gold, Porcelain fused to precious metal and now the new all ceramic crowns where there is no metalwork at all and have a natural translucency similar to teeth.  The choice depends on the desired outcome both functionally and aesthetically.

In constructing a crown, about 1-2mm is trimmed off the tooth, and a mould is taken in a highly accurate impression material. A Temporary crown is made in a plastic material (for a front tooth) or a soft metal (for a posterior tooth).  A mould of the opposing teeth is also taken so that the laboratory technician knows how your teeth meet together.  The Crown is eventually fitted to the to the tooth with a hard cement.

Porcelain fused to metal crown

All ceramic crown (note the translucency and lack of metal)