Crowns
Crowns are one of the best ways of fixing a weakened tooth due to a large filling. This is because a crown bonds over a tooth that once had thin walls. If you have a large filling in your tooth the tooth’s strength can be very compromised. In fact the larger the filling the weaker the tooth that acts like a wedge and pushes the sides of the tooth outward. This can eventually cause hair line cracks or worse still, the side of your tooth can eventually break off!
I have found many teeth that have big metal fillings don’t last forever. Did you know mercury is inside metal fillings? This has been an extremely controversial topic and considered a toxic substance in its free form. Therefore, Enhance Dental will not use mercury fillings whatsoever. The other problem is that when we have hot and cold foods mercury, just like in a thermometer, will expand and contract more than a tooth. This can also lead to weakening and eventual breakage of teeth.
Its pretty common to hear the about a soft piece of bread or other soft food causing a tooth to unexpectedly break. why does this happen? It could be due to a weakened tooth as discussed above but sometimes it’s because of hidden decay. Widespread decay can form under a loose filling or between the teeth. This is like a sink hole in the roads and the tooth eventually collapses. A crown can solve these issues as well.
When do I need a crown?
We can use crowns in many other situations as well. Enhance Dental is happy to advise you when a crown is a suitable option as other options may be possible. For example, if your tooth has thick sides then an overlay restoration may be a good solution. This involves either a resin or ceramic material that binds onto the top of your tooth. It acts like a brace and helps to stop the walls of the tooth flexing and breaking away. Crowns can also be used in cosmetic dentistry.
What types of Crowns are there?
Zirconia, Porcelain/Ceramic and sometimes Gold alloys. Enhance Dental often uses Zirconia as it contains no metal such as gold alloys, is extremely strong and looks very natural. We will give you all the options available and tailor a solution that suits you best. You may no someone that has had a crown for many years that appears slightly noticeable due to a greyish line near the gum. This is because the crowns of the past had metal underneath. Now that we have Zirconia this is a thing of the past.
What is the procedure to make a crown?
It only takes two appointment to prepare and make a crown. We carefully assess your tooth’s suitability, including the health of the nerve, the surrounding bone and the root by doing a digital X-ray and nerve vitality test. The nerve vitality test may sound painful however patients often say it just felt like ice-cream sensitivity but only for a split second. We numb your tooth with a virtually pain free method, known as the Wand. Then we gently prepare your tooth, remove decay or defective fillings and shape it into a dome. scan it and securely cover it with a temporary stable acrylic crown.
A Digital scan is then made using a incredibly high tech device that captures thousand of images of your tooth and it is securely covered with a temporary acrylic crown. This digital information is emailed to our Melbourne based technologically advanced laboratory, Noble Dental Ceramics. A crown based on a digital model of your tooth is then accurately created and processed by a milling machine from a block of Zirconia and buffed to a lustrous finish. We gently remove your temporary crown and securely bond the Zirconia crown to your tooth.
For an informative consultation regarding your individual needs about crowns including a tailored treatment plan, call our highly skilled and caring team at Enhance Dental on (03)9533-8488.
*Please note, as every situation is unique, the image shown cannot represent a guarantee of outcome. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. ©copyright