Why would I need a crown ?

There are a number of reasons. For instance:

• The tooth may have been weakened by having a very large filling.
• You may have discoloured fillings and would like to improve the appearance of the tooth.
• You may have had a root filling which will need a crown to protect it.
• You may have had an accident and damaged the tooth.
• It may help hold a bridge or denture firmly in place.

What are crowns made of ?

Crowns are made of a variety of materials and new materials are being introduced all the time. Here are some of the options available at present:

• Porcelain bonded to precious metal – the most common crown, white in colour. Porcelain applied over base metal.
• All porcelain/ceramic – not quite as strong but minimal tooth preparation and look very natural, therefore fantastic for front teeth.
• Porcelain bonded to Zirconia – strong and metal free so both functional and aesthetic.
• Metal only – very strong and hard wearing, less tooth drilling needed but gold or silver in colour so used mainly at the back of the mouth.