About crown, Porcelain Crown
A crown of ceramics is also referred to as a full ceramic crown. This crown provides the most beautiful result, but is not as strong as a gold crown, as it may crack.
Generally on dental Crown
If a large part of the original tooth is missing, it can be re-built with a crown. Furthermore, there is a need for a crown treatment, if a dentist finds cracks in a tooth that reaches all the way down to the tooth bone, meaning that a root canal would not be appropriate.
Likewise, a crown is a good solution for a tooth that has lost its strength, for instance as a result of a large filling.
An artificial dental crown is a hood, which is placed over the poor tooth, after the shape of the tooth has been adjusted by the dentist. The tooth is protected by the crown and will not crack.
Crowns can be made from several different materials, each having its own strengths and weaknesses.
The procedure
A crown treatment is carried out during 2 visits to the dentist. At the first visit, the patient will have a dental imprint taken of the supporting tooth. This will be used to form a temporary crown.
The tooth is then abraded, and in case of porcelain crown or a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown (PFM-crown) a colour test is done.
Information and dental imprints are then sent to a dental laboratory, in which the final crown will be created.
A temporary plastic crown is made and cemented onto the abraded tooth in order to protect the nerves in the tooth.
At the second visit to the dentist, the temporary crown is removed and the permanent crown is tested. It is adjusted in accordance to requirements, and it is then cemented in place.
After the treatment, the patient will have to make regular visits to the dentist.
Anaesthesia
The treatment is carried out under local sedation.
Side-effects
After a crown treatment, the teeth and gums might feel sore. This will pass quickly, however.
Risk of complications
Porcelain may fracture/crack, or a chip may come off, as it is not as strong as gold. Furthermore a crown of porcelain can tear more on the teeth than a gold crown.
No treatment is risk free, but generally there are not very many risks of complications associated with a crown treatment.
In rare cases there have been allergic reactions to some of the metals, that are part of the alloys.
A crown might come loose, and if not treated by a dentist immediately, holes might occur in the teeth (caries).
Duration of the result
A crown can last for 20-25 years, but its lifespan depends on several factors, such as the size of the reconstruction and the condition of the supporting tooth. Furthermore, it is important that the patient makes sure to take proper care of his or her teeth.