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Crowns - Long-lasting porcelain meticulously matched to the shade of your teeth

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

You’ll be given local anaesthetic to numb the area.

STEP 2

The tooth is prepared for the crown by removing some of the enamel to make space for your crown to fit snuggly.

STEP 3

We’ll take a digital scan of your teeth (no gloopy putty in your mouth!), match the colour to your own teeth and send it to the lab so they can create your new crown with absolute precision.

STEP 4

We’ll fit a temporary crown for you while your new crown is being made at the lab – these are usually in place for 2 weeks and feel perfectly comfortable for the short term.

TREATMENT PROCESS – SECOND APPOINTMENT

STEP 1

We’ll remove your temporary crown and thoroughly clean the area.

STEP 2

Your new crown will be tested for size, fit and colour.

STEP 3

Once we’re satisfied that your crown is perfect we’ll secure it into place using a strong dental cement.

STEP 4

Your bite will be checked using marking papers to ensure that your crown is fitting perfectly and is comfortable before you leave the practice

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:
Normal brushing and flossing can resume immediately after your filling. You may find that there is some sensitivity following your treatment, but applying sensitive toothpaste directly to the area will help to reduce this.

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.