A dental crown is a cap that is placed over an existing, natural tooth, to restore its original shape and natural appearance.
A crown is not a replacement tooth in and of itself, but rather, it most often works in conjunction with an existing tooth that has been damaged. Once in place, the dental crown restores your smile, helps you to bite and chew, and protects the vulnerable natural tooth from being damaged.
Dental crowns are used for a number of reasons by your local Oxenford dentist, Helensvale dentist, or Maudsland dentist. Sometimes, a patient will come to a Gold Coast dental clinic and report that they are unhappy with how their tooth looks. In this instance, a dental crown is a cosmetic dental procedure at your cosmetic dentist Gold Coast.
But as we’ll see, dental crowns can also be used as part of general dentistry procedures.
When do I need a dental crown?
A dental crown may be needed from a dentist near me when a person has the following conditions: chipped teeth, cracked teeth, weak teeth, misshapen teeth, teeth with significant fillings, discoloured teeth, and other conditions.
Effectively, when a person has an issue with the appearance of their teeth, crowns may be a suitable option to help them restore their desired dental appearance.
Crowns are often necessary when the tooth is too damaged for more minor-scale treatments, such as tooth whitening or dental veneers. Crowns require that the remaining natural tooth be smaller than the dental crown that is applied. They are often appropriate where a quantity of the tooth is missing. In such a case, more minor, surface-level treatments are not as capable at changing the shape of the tooth.
Dental crowns are also used in conjunction with a number of other dental treatments at your Oxenford dentist.
A root canal treatment involves removing infected or otherwise damaged pulp from the centre of the tooth, replacing it with a filling. When the centre of the tooth is accessed in this way, it can mean that the opening needs good protection from bacteria, meaning that a crown is often installed over a tooth that has had a root canal performed on it.
Similarly, dental crowns can be helpful at replacing missing teeth. They are used within dental bridges. Dental bridges are a series of interconnected crowns. The outside crowns are placed over the teeth on either side of the gap, effectively ‘bridging the gap’.
Dental crowns are also used as a part of dental implants. Dental implants are a screw-like structure that is implanted into the gums/jaw to replace a missing tooth. A crown is attached to this anchor or base, and effectively acts as the replacement tooth.
What are dental crowns made from?
This varies. Crowns on adult teeth are commonly made of porcelain or ceramic, which allows them to appear life-like, like the natural teeth. However, various types of metal crowns are also offered and may be more appropriate where appearance is not the main priority or in which the tooth will not last.
What is the dental crown procedure like?
Depending on your circumstances, it may be necessary for your dentist Oxenford to first prepare the tooth by removing tooth material from its outer layers. By doing this, the dentist is able to create a smooth and correctly shaped base on which to apply the dental crown, to help to establish the strongest possible connection.
Once this has been done or if it is unnecessary, your Helensvale dentist will take a mould or impression of your tooth. This will then be sent to an external technician, who will produce the crown and quickly supply it back to the dentist for installation in a second appointment. In the meantime, you will be supplied with a temporary crown that will help to restore functionality to your mouth in the interim period.
Do I have another option apart from dental crowns?
This will depend entirely on your personal circumstances. In some cases, dental veneers may be an appropriate fix. These are a thin tooth-coloured layer that is applied to the forward-facing teeth to restore the appearance of the smile. They have less of a protective function, and are less able to restore more extensive, less superficial damage.
The best approach is to consult with your dental clinic Helensvale. They will be able to provide you with your options, with transparent prices and explanations to help you decide.
Where can I get dental crowns on the Gold Coast?
Our bulk billing dentist Oxenford, JJ Smiles, can help. We can also support you with Oxenford braces, your check up and clean, children’s dentistry, and much, much more.
If you need dental crowns in Helensvale and the Gold Coast, contact us on (07) 5529 7567 or reception@jjsmilesdental.com.au for more information or to book an appointment.
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