All-Metal Crown

Crowns involve the placement of a tooth-shaped cap on top of an affected area, cementing it in place. They tend to be prescribed for a wide variety of patients. If patients have worn down their teeth over time or if a large cavity has developed, then a crown may be the best remedy.

Sometimes, older fillings start to weaken an entire tooth leading to the need for extra strengthening and crowns are often needed following root canal treatment. They can also be applied for purely cosmetic reasons. For instance, they are a popular way to conceal discolouration or misshapen teeth. A crown is also applied on top of the abutment when a patient gets a dental implant procedure.

How Is a Crown Prepared?

At the first appointment, a dentist will shape the tooth to create a shape that suits a crown.

After that, the dentist may make a mould in the shape of the tooth using a special form of dental "putty". Impressions are also taken of the teeth opposite the one being crowned so that the dentist can ensure that the crown grinds smoothly against the opposing teeth.

In some cases, dentists can also use computer imaging software to take a snapshot of the affected tooth, which is sent to a laboratory which uses specialist software to assemble a crown.

In most instances, labs receive the impression and create hard copies, usually out of plaster. This hard mould is then used to create a metal, resin or ceramic crown, which is sent back to the dentist.

The dentist now cements the crown in place and may need to trim it slightly to handle any imperfections in the preparation process.

How Long Does the Treatment Take?

The duration of then procedure depends on the reason for the treatment. If there is extensive tooth damage, a dentist may need to build up your tooth with an intermediate filling, so that it is the correct shape for a crown to be applied.

Generally, you will attend a first appointment where the damaged tooth is ground into the appropriate shape. You will then receive a temporary crown for use while the permanent version is created.

A few weeks after that, you will need to return again for the application. The temporary cap is removed, and the moulded crown is then cemented in place. In both cases, the appointments should last no longer than 1 hour, and can be as quick as 30 minutes, although the whole process can take 3-4 weeks.

However, when traveling abroad to a clinic that accepts international patients, the whole process can be completed in as little as 1 week depending on the number of crowns to be made.

Types of Crowns

Dental crowns come in a range of different materials. Permanent crowns are usually constructed from precious metals like gold or platinum, cobalt or nickel alloys, resin, or ceramics combined with metal.

All-Metal Crowns

All-metal crowns are typically made from gold alloys or base metal alloys. Given their metallic appeal, they are best suited to restore hidden molars. Metal crowns are strong and durable, and resist chipping and breaking better than other types of crowns. A minimal amount of your natural tooth structure needs to be removed in order to place a metal crown. Moreover, they hardly wear out adjacent teeth.

Crowns can also be made from other materials:

• Zirconia Crowns: Zirconia crowns are durable, long lasting and well tolerated by the human body.

• All-Ceramic Crowns: All-Ceramic crowns are a popular options for individuals who are looking for a natural-looking result.

• Gold-Ceramic Crowns: Gold is often a preferred material for crowns due to its strength and the fact that it rarely irritates gum tissue.

• Ceramic-Metal Crowns: Ceramic-metal crowns are a popular option for individuals who are looking for a combination of strength and good aesthetics.

• Temporary crowns: These are used before permanent crowns are placed.

Additionally, resin crowns are available at a lower cost than either metals or ceramics. While they can be coloured to give a natural look, they tend to wear away more quickly.

In some cases, crowns cannot be applied, and a middle ground between fillings and crowns is used. Also known as "onlays", these caps are simply placed directly onto the tooth, with no extra mould required.