A dental crown is a full porcelain restoration used to replace or strengthen our tooth structure. Crowns are most often used for teeth that are broken, worn, or have portions destroyed by tooth decay.
Think of a crown as a “cap” cemented onto an existing tooth which fully covers the portion of your tooth above the gum line.
Crowns can be made of porcelain, metal, or a combination of both. Full Porcelain crowns are most often preferred because they mimic the translucency of natural teeth, they are metal free, and are very strong.
Also, if you have had root canal treatment you will need a crown to protect or cap the restored tooth, allowing you to eat and bite down on it as if it was a real tooth.
A dental bridge is several crowns bonded together, carried by natural teeth or implants to replace missing teeth.
Crowns and bridges can also be used to treat Malocclusions. Malocclusion is the misalignment of a bite or unfavourable placement of teeth. Though malocclusion does not hinder functions of the mouth, it can lead to accelerated wear on the teeth – ultimately reducing the size, shape and strength of those teeth that contribute to face shape.
It also contributes to decreased longevity of the teeth, which can advance deterioration and jepordize dental health. Malocclusion can also be characterised by visual spacing or crowding in your smile, an uneven bite or a chipped, cracked or broken tooth resulting from misalignment. In some cases Malocclusion can also be treated with Orthodontics.