How we prepare your dental crown?
When we prepare your tooth to receive a crown it first has to be filed on the chewing surface so that there is sufficient space for the crown. The amount to be removed will depend on the material of the crown as an all-metal crown is thinner and does not need as much tooth structure removed as a porcelain one.
After we have prepared the tooth, a shape forming material will be used to form an impression of the recipient tooth. This is sent on to our dental lab where a suitable crown is made. This can take up to 3 weeks.
Your tooth will be protected by a temporary crown while the new crown is being prepared. The new crown is cemented into place once it has been matched to your existing teeth.
Porcelain Crowns
*Common reasons for dental crowns*
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- Appearance: changes to your natural teeth such as discoloration, shape or gaps, crowns are a great fix. also a common practice for those with adult peg laterals **insert image of peg lateral before and after**
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- Cavities: when you develop a cavity that covers 50% or more of its surface, the tooth starts to significantly reduce in size leaving the tooth vulnerable, fractured state. A crown can then be inserted to help add strength and restore the tooth's appearance.
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- Post Root-Canal Treatment: during root canal treatment, the tooth undergoes a hollowed out process. This can cause the tooth to become very sensitive to stress and especially when pressure and stress. A crown can be a great tool to help stabilizing and redistributing stress more evenly while also adding strength & protection.
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- Fillings: placing a crown over a tooth helps keep fillings in place for a longer period of time as this can help prevent cracks to form at the site, as well as the rest of the surrounding surface.
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- Acid Erosion: this leads to abnormally shorter teeth from excessive wear and tear. A dental crown is placed to help lengthened the (appearance of) tooth.
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- Cusps: placing a crown over a cusp (describe what that is) is a great method to help protect the tooth from the stress of eating/chewing, which may have cause cracking of cusp over time.
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Crowns are quite strong and are a great altertative for replacing missing teeth and last quite long (that is, of course, if you are also taking good care of them). Brushing and flossing your crowns, just as you would your natural teeth, can help make your crowns last up to 10 years or more! (That is, of course, if you are taking good care of them).
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Keep in mind that your crowns or any replacement teeth may not be as strong as your natural teeth. To help make your crowns last (and to avoid making an impromptu emergency visit to our clinic)...
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-Do NOT bite down on hard objects (ex. eating utensils such as forks, bottles caps, other example, etc.)
-Do NOT use our teeth are your own personal bottle/package opener or to cut things
-Should NOT be doing these things with your teeth in general! :)
Crowns can me made from various materials including metals, however most popular material used for crown remolding is Porcelain. This gives a more natural look and overall preference among patients.