Dental Crowns and Bridges
A crown is basically a cap for a damaged tooth. It can be made from a variety of materials, including metal or porcelain.
A crown (or a cap) is a covering that encases the entire tooth surface, restoring it to its original shape and size. A crown is most commonly used to protect and strengthen a tooth structure that cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restorations. However, crowns—especially porcelain or zirconia crowns—can also be used to cap teeth for cosmetic reasons.
There are several types of crowns( metal, zirconia, porcelain fused to metal, porcelain). Zirconia and porcelain crowns are the most popular, because this material resembles your natural tooth enamel very closely. They are made to match the shape, size, and color of your teeth giving you a natural, long-lasting beautiful smile.
Crowns are highly durable and will last many years, but like most dental restorations, they will eventually need to be replaced. The most common reason for the crown failure is decay. In Blue Heron Dental Centre (London, Ontario) Dr. Kabak or Dr. Yurchuk will educate you on how to take care of your crown to increase its longevity.
Why Is a Dental Crown Needed?
A dental crown may be needed in the following situations:
- To protect a weak tooth (for instance, the tooth lost a lot of healthy structure as a result of intense decay, fracture; teeth were not formed well during their development) from breaking. Crown can protect the tooth with signs of starting fracture from dramatic fracture( splitting in parts) because it holds together parts of a cracked tooth.
- To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down
- To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn't a lot of tooth left
- To hold a dental bridge in place
- To cover severely discolored teeth or teeth that erupted with defects( grooves, pits, distorted shape)
- To cover a dental implant
- To make a cosmetic modification if the tooth is too small, tipted or rotated.
What Steps Are Involved in Preparing a Tooth for a Crown?
Getting porcelain or zirconia crowns usually requires two appointments. Your first appointment will include taking several highly accurate molds ( impressions) or a 3D scan that will be used to create your custom crown. If you are getting your crown for cosmetic reasons, highly skilled Dr. Kabak or Dr. Yurchuk can adjust the mold slightly to ensure that the finished crown will actually look better than your original tooth. This mold will also be used to create a temporary crown, which will stay on your tooth for approximately two weeks until your new crown has been fabricated by a dental laboratory.
While the tooth is numb, Dr. Kabak or Dr. Yurchuk will prepare the tooth by removing any decay and shaping the surface to properly fit the crown and accommodate the thickness of the crown. Once these tasks are accomplished, your temporary crown will be glued to your tooth with temporary cement and your bite will be checked to ensure the crown fits properly.
At your second appointment in Blue Heron Dental Centre (London, Ontario), your temporary crown will be removed, the tooth will be cleaned, and your new crown will be carefully placed to ensure the spacing and bite is accurate. You will be given care instructions and encouraged to have regular dental visits to check your new crown and make sure it is still performing well.
We are very excited to share that in Blue Heron Dental Centre (London, Ontario) Dr. Kabak & Dr. Yurchuk are offering “start to finish” within one day crowns now.
Our Cases
Reconstruction of upper teeth with crowns and bridges (Zirconia Plus from Densply Sirona, Germany)
Female patient, 59 years old. Replacement of old resin fillings was performed with Zirconia crowns and bridges. After diagnostic process, old restorations were removed. Laser correction of gum position brought top margins of the teeth on the sane level. Then the patient recieved temporary crowns and bridges, followed by permanent zirconia bridges and crowns. Patient is happy about the results.
Picture 1. A preoperative scan. Defective composite fillings. Missing teeth. Canted bite plane. Disproportional length and width of teeth.
Picture 2. Final results after restoring top teeth. Like all crowns, the Zirconia restorations could protects your tooth in case it is cracked, discolored, chipped, or lacks structural strength because of caries or fracture.