Dental Crowns

A dental crown or dental cap is a covering that is placed over a broken tooth to strengthen it or improve its appearance.  Crowns are only ever used if the tooth is broken or if they are very discoloured.

What to expect

The process to get a crown is multi appointment meaning you will have to visit the dentists multiple times. During the first visit the dentist will discuss with you the general information about the crown and where it will go as well as other details about the treatment. They will then remove most of the outer layer to form a stump and take another impression which will all be sent to a dental technician to make a permanent crown. The next appointment will be the actual operation where the dentist will apply the permanent crown to your tooth. Follow-up appointments and check-ups will be done to make sure that the crown is correctly functioning and not causing you any harm.

FAQ

• What is the price? – For NHS patient treatment is in the band 3 section which will mean costs of around £200. If you are a patient then costs can go up to £800
• how long will it last? – If crowns are properly taken care of and brushed regularly then they can last multiple years however if not properly taken care of then they can fail after only a couple of years
• What does it look like? – To some degree people will be able to see it, it depends on the material you choose as well as where the crown is to be placed. The dentist will try to make it as less noticeable as possible however there are no guarantees.
• Will I have to do anything differently? – Regular maintenance of the crown will be needed including doing things such as flossing or using interdental brushes. You are also asked to make regular appointments with the hygienist to keep the crown as clean as possible.
• Will it hurt? – The tooth has a nerve chamber that will react adversely when work is done to it which is why it will hurt after treatment. This pain can be mitigated with painkillers and will fade away over time.