It is best to think of a crown as a kind of ‘cap’ that fits over the visible part of your tooth – also known as the cusp.
Crowns have traditionally been made of metal or ceramic, or sometimes a combination of the two. If you’re looking for a more natural finish, you will want to opt for a ceramic crown.
A crown will normally be fitted over two appointments. At the first, we’ll remove the weakened parts of the tooth and carry out the necessary preparations to ensure the crown fits well and sits comfortably with the rest of your teeth. This is then followed by a digital impression of it, recording of measurements and choosing the shade or colour of the crown together with you.
All of the information is sent off to a lab technician who will make your crown. You will be fitted with a temporary crown in the meantime. Once the crown is ready, we’ll fit the crown for you here at Hampstead Dental Studio.
With good care and regular maintenance, most crowns last for up to 15 years.
You should care for your crown as you would the rest of your natural teeth. This means brushing twice daily for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing regularly, and continuing to visit us here at the practice for frequent check-ups and maintenance.