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 colour of a natural tooth.
Crowns are an ideal restoration for teeth that have been broken, or have been
weakened by decay or a large filling. A crown could be used for a number
of other reasons, for example
- you may have discoloured fillings and would like to improve
the appearance of the tooth.
- your tooth may have undergone root canal therapy and
need a crown to protect it.
- you may have crooked or misshapen teeth.
Crowns can be made of a variety of different materials and new materials are
continually being introduced. Here are some of the options available
- Porcelain bonded to precious metal - this is the most
common form of crown. A precious metal base is made and
porcelain applied to the surface to give a tooth like appearance.
- All porcelain - Made entirely of porcelain and not as
strong as porcelain bonded crowns, but they can look very
natural and are most often used for front teeth.
- All - ceramic crowns - this modern technique offers
a metal free alternative which can give the strength of
a bonded crown with the appearance of a porcelain crown.
It is therefore suitable for use in all areas of the mouth.
- Gold alloy crowns - one of the oldest filling materials.
Today it is used with other metal alloys to increase its
strength
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