Why do I need a crown?
There are several reasons why a crown may be an option for a repairing a tooth:
- It may be advisable to consider covering your tooth with a crown if your tooth is very broken down through decay, trauma or injury, or perhaps has large fillings in it. This will provide additional strength to your tooth so it can continue to function properly.
- Crowns can help prevent your teeth from breaking. They can also seal up a tooth to minimise chances of reinfection.
- Teeth that have undergone root canal treatment are more prone to breaking, so a crown can help reduce the chances of this.
- If your teeth are worn, broken or have old discoloured fillings, crowns can be used to improve the shape and appearance of your teeth.
What is a crown made of?
Crowns can be made from a variety of materials. They can be metal (gold or silver coloured), a combination of metal with porcelain (tooth coloured) or made entirely of tooth coloured ceramic (such as e.max) for the most natural appearance.
We can discuss which options are available to you and what the benefits of those choices will be.
What happens when I have a crown?
All of our crowns are custom made for each individual case by a highly skilled dental technician to ensure an excellent fit and appearance.
Your dentist will discuss the treatment options with you, checking that you understand the procedure and answering any questions you may have.
Usually you will need an up to date X-ray of your tooth/teeth to check that the roots are healthy and the foundations strong before preparing your tooth for a crown.
Appointment one:
Your dentist will carefully shape your tooth to allow space for the crown. This is usually done under local anaesthetic.
We will take impressions of your teeth, choose a shade for your crown to match your existing teeth and finally provide you with a temporary crown to cover the prepared tooth.
Appointment two:
Your temporary crown will be removed and replaced with your new crown.
Your dentist will ensure a good fit and appearance of the new crown, then cement or bond it into place using the appropriate material for your crown to ensure it lasts well.
We will also give you advice on how best to care for your crown over the years to come.
Sometimes other steps are involved such as ‘mock ups’ of the anticipated finished crown/crowns (known as wax ups). These will help you visualise the prospective appearance and check it is what you are hoping to achieve. This will be discussed with you by your dentist if this is advised.
How long will my crown last?
Crowns typically last 10-15 years.
There are a wide variety of factors that influence this, including:
- the strength of the underlying tooth
- the health of the nerve within the tooth
- the position of the tooth within the mouth
- how much stress and strain a particular crown is put under
- how well the crown is looked after
Are there any risks to having crowns?
We will always take steps to carefully plan your treatment to try and achieve the best possible long term outcome. There can be complications outside our control, even with the best possible planning and treatment
- Nerve damage: Research shows that in approximately 20% of teeth that are prepared for crowns the nerve can die off at some stage in the future and the tooth requires either root canal treatment or extraction.
- Chips and cracks: The porcelain on crowns can chip or crack over time and this usually results in the need to have the crown replaced.
- Receding gums: Gums can recede over time and this can make the joining line between the crown and the tooth more visible. This can be a cosmetic problem and require replacement of crowns.
If you are concerned about any of these risks or have questions about your treatment, your dentist will be happy to discuss these in more detail to ensure you are 100% comfortable about your treatment.
How much do crowns cost?
The cost of your crown(s) will vary depending on the tooth, materials used and the expected time required to perform the treatment.
Your dentist will advise you of this at the time of booking and provide you with a written estimate.
- All ceramic crowns start from £705 per tooth
- Porcelain and metal crowns start from £639 per tooth
- Gold crowns from £763 per tooth
The cost of crowns are included in the Complete Care Plan however patients will be required to pay a contribution to cover technician costs involved in having their crowns made.
For full pricing details, download our latest Price Guide
