Crowns are protective restorations that sit over prepared teeth. They are made in a dental laboratory in a range of materials including metal, ceramic or a combination of metal and ceramic. Each material type has its own advantages and disadvantages; it is a good idea to talk through these options with your dental professional. 

• Why do I need a dental crown
• Treatment
• Benefits of treatment
• Risks of treatment
• Alternatives
• What happens after treatment is finished
• Questions you may want to ask
• Maintaining good oral hygiene at home

Why do I need a dental crown

Treatment

Crown treatment usually takes two appointments of up to 3 hours each - one for the tooth preparation and one for the crown cementation.It takes 2-4 weeks between appointments to make the crown in the dental laboratory. During this time, a temporary crown is provided to protect the prepared tooth. The typical stages of crown treatment include: 

Benefits of treatment

• Function and appearance: Missing tooth structure is replaced providing better function and appearance.
  
• Reinforcement: For heavily broken down teeth, the remaining tooth structure is reinforced.
  
• Tooth position: Crowns can help maintain the correct position of the tooth.
  

Risks of treatment

• Dental nerve injury/death: If the nerve in the supporting tooth is present, there is a risk (approximately 20% chance) that it may become inflamed and die. If this occurs, a root canal treatment or tooth extraction is required. 
• Gum recession: Over time gums can recede (shrink back) and the margins of the crown may become visible. 
• Porcelain fracture: If porcelain is used on your crown, there is a risk this may fracture. If so, the crown will need to be replaced. 
• Temporary crowns: Temporary crowns are not as strong as definitive crowns and can be easily broken. It is important to return for the fit of your definitive crown as most temporary crowns are not designed to last long. 

Alternatives

We will always discuss the options available to you in depth before any decisions are made. Such options may include: 

• No treatment: However, teeth which benefit from the reinforcement provided by a crown and could be left at risk of further breakdown if left untreated. 
• Filling: Fillings can be used to build up lost tooth tissue, but fillings will not reinforce the structure of a tooth as a crown would. 
• Onlay: onlays are similar to crowns but only cover the biting surface of the tooth (compared to crowns which cover the whole tooth). Onlays can be used for teeth which have a larger amount of natural tooth left. 

What happens after treatment is finished

After your crown has been fit you will have a review appointment to check that both you and your dentist are happy with the finished result. This may involve checking your bite, checking the crown fit and checking the ability for you to clean around the crown. 

Questions you may want to ask

• What crown colours/materials are best for my tooth?
• How long do dental crowns last?
• How long will each appointment be?
• How can I best take care of my crown?

Maintaining good oral hygiene at home

Maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial for healthy teeth and gums, and will help reduce the risk of decay and gum disease. Brush your teeth twice daily for 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth with floss or interdental brushes.

Smoking and alcohol increase the risk of oral disease. If you want to quit smoking or reduce your alcohol intake, please talk to the clinician you see for further advice.

It is important to attend dental check-ups regularly, as this will help your dentist to identify any dental disease early.