The most common dental emergency seen on a daily basis by dentists is cracked or broken teeth. One of the treatment options is a dental crown that provides a stable long term solution for the damaged and weakened tooth. At the same time, they also provide an aesthetic solution to help your teeth and smile look their best. What is a porcelain crown and why might I need one? A porcelain crown is a fixed prosthetic object that is cemented onto your tooth. This may be done for a few reasons, but most notably, it can be because the tooth is damaged and needs to be covered or repaired. The benefit of a crown is that it will strengthen the tooth to help prevent it from being damaged again. Crowns are made by impersonating the shape of your existing tooth in order to look and feel as though you haven’t even had any treatment done which restores both function and appearance so that one can eat normally and feel confident about one’s smile. Porcelain Crown facts The most popular and commonly used crowns are an all-ceramic porcelain crown. There are also other types of materials used such as: Porcelain fused to alloy – this crown provides a stronger bond than regular porcelain because it is infused with metal structures. This makes it extremely durable. Gold alloy – the gold alloy crown is made from gold or gold alloy, it can also be made in a combination of gold and porcelain. Base metal crown – this crown may be made out of chromium or nickel chromium, it withstands biting and has been believed to last longer in terms of wear and tear. One Visit Crown – this is a pre-made crown that is adapted and fitted onto your existing tooth to act and feel like a natural tooth placed in a one visit appointment. Temporary crown – this crown is made in your dentist’s office whereas the permanent ones are made in a dental laboratory. The temporary crown is made of an acrylic-based material or stainless steel and is placed temporarily until a permanent crown is made up for you in the laboratory. A temporary dental crown is also created to help support your teeth while you await the permanent one. After having one in place you need to make sure that you take care of it much as you would take care of your own natural teeth. Here are a few tips on how to care for your temporary crowns: Avoid sticky foods or sweets like caramels and gum, these could stick onto your crown, grab and eventually pull it off. When chewing, try using the side of your mouth without a crown as opposed to the one that does, it just takes the pressure off. Avoid chewing hard foods like raw vegetables. Parboiling them can make them slightly softer. Slide, rather than lift out your dental floss when using it and cleaning between your teeth. So why is a dental crown necessary? To protect a weak tooth from breaking or holding together parts of a cracked tooth To restore an already broken tooth or one that has been severely worn down To cover a tooth with a large filling that has a high risk of either the tooth and filling cracking To hold a dental bridge in place To cover discoloured teeth To cover a dental implant Crowns, just like normal teeth require maintenance to ensure that they are long-lasting. It’s vital to carry on practising good dental hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, especially around the crown area where the gum meets the tooth. Rinse out daily using an antibacterial mouth wash. Your crowned tooth isn’t exempt from conditions like gum disease. If treated well, your crown should last on average 12-15 years, if not more. The lifespan is dependant on how you look after it with excellent daily oral hygiene, maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding very hard foods and regular dental check up’s will improve the long term prognosis. We’re all different but following good mouth-related habits like not grinding your teeth and not chewing or biting your fingernails can help you keep your dental crown healthy. Do you think you need a porcelain crown? Here’s what to expect In your first consultation, we will do a comprehensive assessment of the damaged tooth. If a crown is the best option, our dentist Dr Joffe will prepare the tooth by shaping it and taking an impression of it. You will be fitted with a temporary crown, while your permanent one is custom made in our laboratory. At the next appointment, Dr Joffe will remove the temporary crown and fit in your permanent one. The crown will only be cemented into place after the patient has viewed and approved it. If you’re considering a dental crown or restorative treatment, contact Dr Brian Joffe at Hyde Park Dental Care today! Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and LinkedIn.