Dental Crowns
Dental Crowns at Queanbeyan Dental Clinic
If you suffer from a severely broken, misshapen or weak tooth, a dental crown is one of the most common procedures to cover and restore your tooth. At Queanbeyan Dental Clinic, our dentists have years of experience treating patients from all walks of life, taking time and care with each patient to ensure they are receiving a personalised experience. If you are located near Queanbeyan and surrounds, please contact our clinic to book a consultation with one of our doctors for dental crowns.
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a tooth-like shaped cap placed over your existing tooth, restoring the original appearance of the tooth.
A patient may need a dental crown for the following reasons:
- Preventing a decayed tooth from further damage, breakage or cracking by covering the concerning tooth.
- To restore teeth that are worn down due to grinding of the teeth or natural wear over long periods of time.
- A tooth may be misshapen and therefore, the patient may feel discomfort in regard to the appearance or feel of the misshapen tooth.
- Covering discoloured teeth.
- Supporting a dental bridge.
- Covering a tooth with a large filling/gap.
In most cases, your dentist will be able to examine your teeth, take into consideration your concerns and formulate the best treatment plan for you. If your particular situation requires a dental crown, our experienced dentists will guide you through the process from start to finish.
What Are Dental Crowns Made Of?
Dental crowns come in an array of different materials available to choose from.
Here are the most common materials:
Metal
The sturdiest type of material dental crowns can be made of. Metals can include gold, silver or similar metal alloys. Gold is one of the more popular choices however, some patients may be discouraged due to the cost of gold. Metal crowns are able to withstand strong chewing and biting, particularly used on molars.
Porcelain Fused to Metal
This option is popular as it has the ability to be colour-match with your natural teeth. There is a slight chance that this type may chip or break in comparison to metal dental crowns.
Resin
These crowns are on the more affordable end of the scale. This is because it is not as resilient as the materials listed above and can be more prone to fracturing or chipping.
Ceramic or Full Porcelain Crowns
These materials provide the best colour match to your natural teeth making them a great alternative for covering front teeth. They are also offered as a good option for those who are allergic to particular metals. The only con to these options is that they have the possibility to wear down the teeth that are sitting opposite the crowns. They also tend to be less sturdy than the porcelain fused to metal option.
If you are unsure about which option is best for you, it is best to speak with your dentist for the available options and most suitable material for your needs. Book an appointment here to get your journey started.
What is the Procedure for Dental Crowns?
The full procedure will take roughly two to three visits to the dental practice, depending on the dentist and the treatment.
A traditional method for applying a crown will include the following steps:
- Your dentist will examine the tooth that is of concern and begin the preparation of the crown. The preparation may involve taking x-rays.
- The tooth that the crown will be placed over is filed along the sides and across the top. The amount of filing will depend on the material of crown used. E.g. gold crowns/metal crowns are fairly thin and therefore, it will not require as much filing.
- An impression or mold is made of the tooth after filing to ensure your bite is not affected.
- The impression is sent off to a dental laboratory to be made. Depending on the laboratory, it may take up to three weeks to return back to the dental clinic.
- A temporary crown is placed over your tooth to protect it until the following appointment.
- For your following appointment, the permanent dental crown will have arrived back at the dental practice. The dentist will first remove the temporary crown.
- The dentist will then examine the shape and colour of the permanent crown.
- Once confirmed, the dentist will use a dental cement to secure the crown in place over your existing tooth.
- After testing your bite and mouthfeel, you’re good to go!
Speak to a Dental Crown Specialist in Queanbeyan Today!
Queanbeyan Dental Clinic is highly rated for not only the quality of treatments but also the level of care provided to each and every patient. We are here to promote a better oral health experience for the local and wider community of Queanbeyan. Book in an appointment online or speak to one of our friendly staff members by calling us on 02 6297 3171.
