What is a dental crown?
A dental crown is an artificial tooth replacement used for teeth that have been severely damaged (due to decay or a fall). The insertion of the dental crown is called crowning by the dentist.
Not only the dental prosthesis is called “crown” or “dental crown”, but also that part of a natural tooth that protrudes from the gum.
Dental crown: types
Dental crowns are divided into full crowns and partial crowns. A full crown completely covers the tooth. A partial crown, on the other hand, covers only part of the tooth, for example the occlusal surface.
Dental and maxillofacial practices can directly fabricate a temporary dental crown. It serves as a temporary solution for the patient until he or she receives the permanent denture. A permanent dental crown is carefully adapted to the patient’s individual dentition and made in special dental laboratories.
Dental crown: material
Metals, ceramics or plastics are used as dental crown materials:
Dental crowns made of plastic are less expensive, but they wear out more easily and are more likely to be damaged than dental crowns made of metal.
Dental crowns made of ceramic offer an attractive aesthetic result: they hardly differ in color from a natural tooth and are particularly suitable for the visible front teeth.
When do you need a dental crown?
- missing tooth structure
- numerous fillings
- missing support zones of the tooth
- correction of malocclusions of teeth
- missing teeth
- loose teeth
- discolored teeth
Dental crowns are also often used when dentures are inserted so that the denture can be anchored there. Any pending pretreatment, such as gum treatment, should be completed prior to crowning.
A dental crown is not suitable for teeth with a dead nerve, nor for teeth that are severely tilted.
What do you do when you attach a dental crown?
Preliminary examination
Before the dentist makes the crown, he examines the tooth root and, if necessary, performs a pretreatment. He tests the functionality of the tooth nerve by spraying the tooth with a cold spray. If the patient feels a cold pain in the tooth, the tooth nerve is intact.
Since an X-ray examination always involves a certain amount of radiation, it is performed only in exceptional cases.
Pretreatment of the tooth
Determining the individual crown shape
To ensure that the crown does not interfere with chewing later, it is precisely adapted to the patient’s individual bite. To do this, the patient bites down on a bite splint with impression material (usually silicone-based). The material is usually cured within a few minutes. The dentist then removes the splint with the bite impression. In addition, an impression is made on a wax plate. Using both impressions, a dental technician in the laboratory fabricates a precision-fit crown.
What are the risks of a dental crown?
- Infections of tooth or gum
- Injuries of nerves
- Inflammation of the dental nerve (pulpitis)
- Bleeding
- scarring of the gums
After placing a dental crown, the following complications are possible:
- Damage to the dental crown (it may need to be replaced)
- detachment or falling out of the dental crown
- allergic reactions or intolerance to the crown material
- unsatisfactory esthetic result, for example due to a dark visible edge of the dental crown
- pain on hot or cold stimuli (ice cream, cold drinks, hot dishes)
- hypersensitivity to biting
Until you get used to your new bite feeling, the dental crown will still feel a little unfamiliar. However, if you still feel pressure or pain when chewing after a few days, your dentist should check the dental crown.
Careful, regular oral hygiene is essential for the longest possible service life of the dental crown. It is therefore best to brush your teeth after every meal, but at least twice a day, and to floss daily.
