Crowns; FAQs answered by our dental Coorparoo

Do you need to have a dental crown fitted, but aren’t sure what it entails?

At Brisbane Laser Dentist, our dental Coorparoo has helped many patients restore the aesthetics and the strength of their teeth using crowns, and will always be able to offer you advice about restorative procedures.

Here, our dental Coorparoo answers common questions that we receive about dental crowns, so enjoy!

What are dental crowns?

A dental crown is used to rebuild a tooth that has either been deeply damaged by decay or through a fall or trauma. They are also sometimes referred to as dental caps, as they completely cap the tooth that they are applied to.

They are technically restorative but, if the correct materials are used to create them, they can have a cosmetic impact on your smile as well. When you come to our dental Coorparoo, our team will always aim to balance restorative and cosmetic work, so your crown will always seamlessly blend in with the rest of the tooth that it is placed on.

Why would someone need to have a crown fitted?

There are many reasons why you may need to have a crown fitted, but the most common reasons include:-

• Having a tooth that has been weakened by the placement of a very large filling.
• The top of your tooth has been damaged in some way and you require a restorative procedure to hold it together.
• You have recently had a root canal, and need something hardy to protect and add strength to the tooth.
• You are having a denture or partial bridge fitted and need something to act as a secure anchor point for the prosthetics.
• You have a discoloured filling and are looking for a way to improve the aesthetics of the tooth and your smile overall.

You may also need to have a crown fitted if our team determines that your tooth is too badly decayed for a regular filling and needs something larger to restore it.

Does a tooth that is going to have a crown need preparation?

Yes, most teeth that are going to have a crown fitted will need some kind of preparation.

With a crown, you will need to have the tooth that it is going to be attached to, reshaped, which is where our dentist comes in. Using drills and some advanced techniques, we will shape the tooth, which will usually involve removing the outer surfaces and leaving the inner core intact. The amount of tooth that we remove will match the thickness of the crown that will be placed on top of it.

We will then take a mould of the prepared tooth to have the crown created; this will be done in a dental laboratory and should arrive back at our clinic in around 2-6 weeks. During this period, we will usually place a temporary crown to protect the preparation work.

Is the tooth sensitive afterwards?

There should not be any sensitivity after you have had your permanent crown fitted.

If you are experiencing soreness and discomfort post-crown fitting, contact our team for advice.

Will the crown be noticeable?

As mentioned before, our team will always aim to match restorative needs with aesthetic ones.

And so, when you come to us to have a crown fitted, we will usually use either composite or porcelain to create the crown, so it will blend in seamlessly with your smile.

DISCLAIMER

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.

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