MediSherpa

• Badly broken-down teeth
• Primary trauma
• Tooth wear
• Hypoplastic conditions
• To alter the shape, size or inclination of teeth
• To alter the occlusion
• As part of another restoration
• Combined indications
• Multiple crowns
• Appearance

Crowns are normally an option when the gums are intact, the root is stable, and the tooth is anchored into the jawbone with sufficient depth.

When there is inadequate supportive tissue, or there is no teeth for abutment it is contraindicated. Crowning is a poor choice in patients with poor oral hygiene and health.

The dental technician will prepare a highly-detailed artificial crown in the laboratory based on the previously constructed dental impression. The construction of the crown usually lasts a few days depending on the material used. When the crown is ready, it will be temporarily installed and adapted in a second session. For especially sensitive teeth, this can be conducted using local anaesthetic. When the crown has been successfully integrated, it is then permanently cemented in. In the case of cosmetic crowns, a third pre-cementation session may be necessary in order to monitor the adaptation process and make any necessary modifications. For some patients, there may be insufficient dental material present to which to attach the crown. In this case, a so-called "pin mounting" must be anchored within the root onto which the crown can then be placed.

The preparation is the same in all cases: in the first treatment session, x-rays and/or photographs are made of the teeth to be treated. As part of the second step, the doctor must grind the teeth down in order to make room for the crowns. At the same time, all damaging and carious parts of the teeth are carefully removed. The treatment is normally performed using local anaesthesia such that the patient does not feel any pain. Next, an impression is taken of the correspondingly prepared jawbone, which is used as a model for the preparation of accurately fitting crowns in the laboratory.

The crowning of damaged teeth is a very safe process in which treatment usually proceeds without problems and complications seldom arise. Fewer than one percent of dental restorations fail yearly within the first two years. Occasionally, debuffing the tooth may lead to dental nerve damage. In this case, root canal treatment is unavoidable. One long-term consequence of note is the accumulation of bacteria on the crown; secondary consequences of this would be carious infections, gingivitis, and/or periodontitis. Appropriate dental hygiene is absolutely necessary to constrain such complications at the outset. A further conceivable risk would be the debonding of the crown. In the case of metal crowns, a notable risk would be an increased sensitivity to heat and cold in the affected tooth.

Naturally, it is important that careful dental hygiene is observed (including the areas between the teeth) in order to prevent the settling of bacteria on the edges of the crowns. The likelihood of complications can be minimised at the outset through diligent work. Your crowns should be cleaned professionally and thoroughly, even more so than your natural teeth. It is best to do this after every meal. Ideally, you would use a soft toothbrush and a toothpaste with a neutral pH value. Subsequent cleaning of the interdental gaps with dental floss is recommended. Above all, this includes the complete removal of carious areas of the tooth before installing the crown, otherwise, inflammation may occur. Dental crowns are considered to be a safe and long-lasting alternative for reconstructing your teeth in their natural form.