Dental Crowns

Crowns help restore your confidence in your smile, help you to eat more comfortably and protect the health of your tooth.

What are crowns?

A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over the entire visible portion of your tooth. It’s a permanent solution for a damaged tooth and once it’s fixed in place, a crown will look, feel and function just like any other tooth.

Why are they needed?

Crowns are usually needed if you have a damaged or weakened tooth that cannot be fixed with a filling. Sometimes crowns are needed because of aesthetic considerations but mainly it’s due to a lack of remaining tooth structure. If you have a tooth that has significant damage or a weakened structure, a crown can help support that tooth and prevent further decay, preserving your natural tooth for the future. Crowns can also improve the appearance of a tooth that is chipped or stained, restoring the tooth to its usual shape and colour.

What are they made of?

Crowns can be made from ceramic (such as porcelain), metal (gold or metal alloy), or a combination of both. The latest advances in ceramics mean that porcelain crowns are indistinguishable from your own natural teeth.

Providing you take proper care of your teeth, a dental crown can last for years.

What are the alternatives to crowns?

Possible alternatives to crowns are:

  • Veneers – A veneer is a thin moulding custom-made from porcelain, which is bonded to the front surface of a tooth. They can also be used to cover gaps in teeth where orthodontic treatment may not be suitable.

  • Fillings – Fillings are used to fill cavities that have formed in your teeth. They help to stop toothache and prevent further decay. There are different types of fillings but the most common are amalgam (metal) and composite, which match the colour of your teeth.

Queensbury Dental Surgery can advise you about which treatment is right for you. This will depend on the extent of the damage to your teeth and which teeth are affected.

How are crowns fitted?

It usually takes two appointments to prepare and fit a crown. During the first visit, your dentist will remove any weakened parts of the tooth and prepare it so it’s equipped to hold the crown. Your dentist will then take an impression and fit a temporary crown, custom-made by a specialised lab technician according to the dentist’s instructions. At your second visit, the temporary crown is removed and the new crown is cemented into place.

Depending on where in your mouth a crown is being fitted, they can be made from either metal, or metal covered in porcelain, or completely from porcelain. Porcelain crowns are used when the treatment is being carried out on a tooth that’s towards the front of your mouth, so it’s practically impossible to tell it apart from your natural teeth.

How much do crowns cost?

Crowns are available at Queensbury Dental Surgery, exact costs depend on which tooth is being treated and which material the crown is made of. To discuss pricing, please book at appointment with our team.