Dental Crowns Brisbane

When a tooth has fractured substantially, has had a number of large fillings or is showing crack lines, it may be appropriate to restore it with a crown. Crowns are used when there is not enough good tooth structure remaining to support a filling. A crown is commonly called a cap. As a cap fits over your head, you can think of a crown as a helmet for your tooth. Unlike a cap though, a crown will offer your tooth some added protection. The crown covers all surfaces of the tooth it restores, providing full 360 degree coverage around the tooth just like the metal rings that hold the wooden planks on a wine barrel together. This makes the damaged tooth strong again and offers protection when chewing and prevention from fracturing.

Some patients come in after years of getting fillings and we find that we can no longer replace the filling. Fillings are used to prevent tooth decay but if they are not maintained, or if they are not set correctly, tooth decay will continue. When tooth decay gets significant it must be removed and this can cause the structure of the tooth to be unable to support further fillings. Crowns are the next step, and although you will be losing a little tooth structure to have room to fit the crown, you will be restoring your dental health.

In short, you need a helmet that will restore the same protection that your natural tooth used to have. What you decide this helmet should be made of is entirely up to you. As your dentist, it is our job to cap your teeth with care and have them returned to good working order. In the past crowns were made from metals such as gold for strength. However much like amalgam fillings, this has happened less and less due to the metals not being an aesthetic fit. To correct this, a layer of porcelain can be added onto the metal crown to form what is commonly known as a veneered crown. This type of crown combines the strength of underlying metal with the tooth like aesthetic of porcelain. There is always a small risk of porcelain fracturing away from the metal so quality dentistry is required as well as regular maintenance.

We also now have access to newer technology that allows us to create a crown with no metal at all. These crowns are commonly referred to as all-ceramic crowns or all-porcelain crowns. In the past this option was really only suitable for front teeth where the aesthetic demands of patients are extremely important but strength is not so important. That is because porcelain is of course weaker than metal. We now have new high strength porcelains such as alumina and zirconia which have allowed us to develop all-ceramic crowns that are both strong and aesthetic. However, there is a slight compromise in aesthetics with these materials, resulting in crowns that look a little more opaque than what a real tooth should look like. Currently, all-ceramic crowns made with Lithium Disilicate such as e.max provide the best of both worlds with great aesthetics combined with strength suitable in both front and back teeth areas. We’ll go over all your options when you come in.

What's In A Checkup?

What’s the process to get a crown? It usually takes 2 appointments 2 weeks apart:

1st Appointment

• Take an impression for planning and to make temporary crown
• Replace any defective fillings
• Prepare a foundation for the crown to sit on
• Take an impression to make the crown
• Place temporary crown
• Decide on crown type and colour

2nd Appointment

• Crown has been made by a dental technician
• Remove temporary crown
• Cement in permanent crown

Crowns are one of the last resorts a dentist should use for your teeth. If you’ve been getting regular checkups then tooth decay would have been noticed long ago and teeth cleaning and fillings should have prevented severe tooth decay that caused you to need a crown. However, sometimes life doesn’t allow us regular checkups or things just didn’t quite work out and your tooth decay has become significant or your tooth has simply broken. Worry not because a dental crown is the royal solution to your dental health.

A crown will prevent further tooth decay and all existing decay will be removed. You can treat a crown just like a normal tooth that hasn’t had any dental work. It is very strong, so you don’t have to fear using the tooth when you eat anymore. Just like all your other teeth, it is important to keep up with regular checkups and cleaning and have good oral hygiene in order to maintain that crown for the long term. If you are overwhelmed by the choices you have for crowns, or not sure if you need any then please come in for a consultation with one of our dentists who will be happy to assist you and advise you.