The crown is a particularly old technique of a restorative dentist in Wimbledon; it is a method to fix broken or weakened teeth, even if most of the tooth has been lost to decay. A crown can be fabricated which represents 80% or more of the severely damaged teeth, as long as its root is still healthy and strong, a crown can be fitted over the remaining tooth fragment.

Many crowns were carved from human and animal bone, sometimes transplanted human teeth were also used! But modern crowns are a ceramic polymer blend that is fabricated to match your enamel both in shade and translucency. It can take several weeks for a crown to be made in a dental laboratory and requires very precise measurements to be taken. Once the crown is fitted it is ready to be used immediately with very little recovery time.

Crowns can be used purely cosmetically and can correct a tooth that has extensive amalgam fillings. The removal of those filling and replacing it with a crown can make a significant difference in your appearance, particularly with front teeth.

Crowns can also be used to treat the complication of a tooth crumbling after an extensive root canal. Although unusual with a modern endodontic root canal treatment, a crown is still a viable treatment for a crumbling structurally unsound tooth.

Temporary crowns

Temporary crowns are far less customised and they’re only meant to be used for a short period of time; they are held in place using a temporary adhesive that can be dissolved when your crown needs to be removed. When a crown is to be installed urgently, due to exposed nerves resulting in severe discomfort, the temporary crown is used whilst the permanent crown is being manufactured in a dental laboratory.

Dental coronation- fitting the crown

Dental crowning is a multi-session treatment at our dentist in Wimbledon; the initial treatment is a measurement and preparation X-rays must be taken to ensure the health of the root beneath the gum line and a dental mould or 3D stand to predict the shape and form of the crown.

The tooth that is being treated will be filed down removing the outer layer and any decay. An impression will be taken of this restructured tooth or ‘’peg’’ and the temporary crown will be adhered to it. Impressions along with enamel colour data and any notes made by the dentist will be sent to a dental clinic, it can take several weeks to make the crown and when it is shipped to the clinic, it can be fitted on during a second visit. The cementing of the finished crown onto the peg (after the removal of the temporary crown) is a fairly trivial procedure and you’ll be able to use your new crown immediately after the dental cement has cured.

With reasonable oral hygiene and regular check-ups, a crown is expected to last 10 to 15 years; gold crowns can have a longer lifespan but are more costly to create. If you do have an interest in a gold crown or any other alternative material, you should discuss this with our dentist in Wimbledon during the initial check-up.