Crowns
A crown is a tooth-shaped protective cap that covers the whole tooth. They are used to restore weak, broken or decayed teeth and protect them from further damage.
Crowns made from porcelain mimic the natural enamel more than any other type of crown and are considered state-of-the-art in dentistry, which is why the majority of crown treatments at Oakwood Dental Practice are porcelain. There are two types of porcelain crown that we use depending on the location of the tooth:
- EMAX: The brand name of a crown made from 100% porcelain (lithium disilicate) which is stronger than tooth tissue and has exceptional aesthetics which is why Oakwood Dental Practice predominantly uses EMAX crowns for anterior teeth (at the front of the mouth).
- Zirconia: Another 100% porcelain (zirconia) crown which is considered to be the strongest of all crown choices, with great aesthetics that are not quite as natural-looking as EMAX crowns. We predominantly use zirconia for posterior teeth (at the back of the mouth).
WHO IS A CROWN SUITABLE FOR?
Crowns are suitable for adults whose tooth is too damaged for a filling to resolve the issue. Beyond repairing damage caused by decay, there are several other reasons why you might need a crown:
● Strengthen a weak tooth
● Protect and support a cracked tooth
● Restore a worn-down or broken tooth
● Hold a dental bridge in place
● Cover a severely stained or discoloured tooth
● Cover a root canal-treated tooth
● Cover a dental implant
Where the tooth is too damaged to retain a crown, a post retained crown (or post and core) is a great solution. Here a fibreglass or metal post is screwed into the root of the tooth and a porcelain crown is fitted to the post.
TREATMENT PROCESS – FIRST APPOINTMENT
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
TREATMENT PROCESS – SECOND APPOINTMENT
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
HOW MUCH DOES A FILLING COST?
An EMAX crown is £680 and a Zirconia crown is £600. Your dentist will advise which crown is best suited for your treatment.
Should you require a post retained crown, this will be an additional £130 for a fibreglass post. Again, we’ll discuss your options and treatment plan with you fully at your consultation appointment.
As with many of our treatments, patients on one of our membership plans get a 10% discount.
Read more about our membership plans here.
AFTERCARE
While you are still numb:
• Avoid chewing on the numb side of your mouth as you may bite your tongue and lips without noticing
• Be careful with hot drinks, as it may be difficult to tell if the temperature is too hot
More aftercare info:
Any discomfort following the treatment should resolve itself after 2-3 days.
While the temporary crown is in place it is best to avoid very hard or sticky foods which can cause the filling to dislodge.