Crowns or Replacement Crowns

1. What is a replacement crown?

A replacement crown replaces part or all of the natural crown of a tooth. It is also called a crown or a cap.
The visible part of the tooth is called the crown. It is joined to the root of the tooth which is in the jawbone under the gum.
When all, or a large part of the original crown of a tooth has been destroyed, a replacement crown is made to restore the tooth.
A replacement crown is also made for a healthy tooth when it forms part of a bridge, or when it is used for cosmetic purposes.
A natural crown that has become discoloured or unsightly can be replaced with a new crown. The new crown can be made to match the surrounding teeth in colour, shape and proportion.
A replacement crown is prepared by the dentist and made by a dental technician.

The dentist will pare down the tooth, and remove any decay.
An impression of the prepared tooth is taken using an elastic material. This is sent to the dental technician, where the replacement crown is made.
A temporary acrylic crown will be fitted over the prepared tooth, while the replacement crown is being made.
The new crown is then cemented onto the prepared tooth.
Replacement crowns can also be used as supports for a bridge, where they are joined to artificial teeth to fill a gap between the teeth.

Before

Preparation

After

Replacement crowns may be made of porcelain, gold or a combination of metals.
Porcelain can be fused to a metal base, usually gold or silver, when the crown needs added strength, and when a good appearance is required. This is called a porcelain jacket crown.
Temporary crowns are made of acrylic.

Crown made of
porcelain and metal

Porcelain crown

No, it won’t. The dentist will make and install a temporary acrylic crown to protect the pared down tooth. It will look good and be comfortable to eat with.

Preparation

Temporary crowns

Final crowns

The procedure is not painful because a local anaesthetic is used during the preparation of the tooth, and the taking of the impression.
Pain relief is seldom necessary after the treatment.
Sensitivity to hot and cold sometimes occurs after the crown has been cemented, but this is usually temporary.

Replacement crowns can restore and enhance the appearance of teeth and the smile.
They are often used in cosmetic dentistry as part of the treatment. Replacement crowns can be made to look natural, and to match the surrounding teeth.

Before

After

Eating with a replacement crown should be the same as with a natural tooth. With pure porcelain crowns, some care may be necessary.

Replacement crowns are very successful for restoring teeth.
They are functional: chewing is comfortable and the same as with natural teeth.
They are aesthetic: they look natural and match the size, colour and shape of the other teeth.
They are durable: they are known to last for up to forty years.

Before

After

The dental technician plays an important part in the making of a crown. It takes skill and experience to fabricate a crown from the impression that the dentist provides. The crown must be very precise in its colour and dimensions.
The impression that is received from the dentist is used to make a plaster or stone cast of the prepared tooth or teeth. The cast is a copy of the tooth or teeth.
It allows the technician to make a crown over the exact copy of a prepared tooth.
The technician will use the same shade/colour guide as the dentist, to ensure that the replacement crown will match the colour of the adjacent teeth.

Impression on left
Crown on cast (right)

Crown + cast

Crown on cast
for the dentist

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