Dental Crown
In simple terms, a dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap. These are used to restore weak, broken or large decayed teeth.
The dentist will need to remove a small amount of enamel of your teeth to allow proper fit over your teeth.
Type of Dental Crown
Zirconia Crowns
Zirconia crowns are made of white solid ceramic blocks that combine metal’s strength and durability with the aesthetics of porcelain.
Full Porcelain Crowns/E-max crowns
Full Porcelain crowns are best known for its superior aesthetics and ability to match natural tooth colours better than any other type of crowns.
Porcelain Fused Metal Crowns (PFM)
PFM crowns are made of metal-alloy on the inside and porcelain on the outside. It is more economical than other dental crown available.
Zirconia Crown
Zirconia crowns are made of white solid ceramic blocks that combine metal’s strength and durability with the aesthetics of porcelain.
Some of the advantages of zirconia crowns are :
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High durability
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Requires less tooth cutting, preserving more of the original tooth structure
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Resembles tooth colour
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For enhanced aesthetics, it can be layered with porcelain.
Full Porcelain Crowns/E-max crowns
Full Porcelain crowns are best known for its superior aesthetics and ability to match natural tooth colours better than any other type of crowns.
These are typically used for the front teeth where aesthetic demands are higher.
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Pros:
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Superior aesthetics that matches very well with natural tooth colours
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Require less cutting of tooth structure compared to PFM crowns
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Cons:
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Weaker as compared to PFM and Zirconia crowns
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Generally more costly compared to other alternatives
Porcelain Fused Metal Crowns (PFM)
PFM crowns are made of metal-alloy on the inside and porcelain on the outside. Hence, combining the strength of metal crowns with the aesthetics of porcelain crowns. Typically, PFM crowns are suitable for front or back teeth and long bridges where metal is required for strength.
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Pros:
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Decent visual appearance as they have a porcelain exterior which can match the neighboring tooth
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Good durability to withstand the stress of chewing
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More economical compared to porcelain/zirconia crowns
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Cons:
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Despite the porcelain exterior, the metal on the inner surface may get exposed if the gum starts to recede as we get older
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Possibility of triggering an allergic reaction to metal
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Requires more tooth cutting to accommodate 2 layers of material
What to expect before getting crown?
Typically, getting a crown involves 2 separate visits:
First Visit
Our dentist will assess the condition of the tooth. If necessary, root canal treatment will be performed to reduce chances of complications.
Local anaesthesia will first be administered. After that, the crown-bearing tooth is then filed down across the top and sides. This makes room for the crown.
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Once the preparation of the tooth is complete, our dentist will take the mold/impression of the tooth and its surrounding structures. The impressions are then sent to a dental laboratory for fabrication.
It normally takes about 45-60 minutes for the full procedure.
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Second Visit
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Our dentist will fit the crown on the prepared tooth and check for its fitting on all sides. Once the check is complete, the crown will be permanently cemented. This step normally takes 15-30 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
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