A dental crown, also referred to as a tooth crown or tooth cap, serves as a protective shield placed on top of a damaged tooth or teeth. These versatile restorations not only protect your teeth but also restore their shape and function.
Over time, teeth can undergo damage due to various factors, including wear, decay or injury, leading to alterations in their shape or size. Such changes weaken your teeth, making them susceptible to further damage.. While fillings are often the initial recourse for tooth cavities, severe decay or injury may necessitate a more robust solution— enter the dental crown. Acting as a tooth-shaped “cap,” dental crowns offer long-term protection and reinforcement to your teeth, ensuring their optimal health and functionality.
In some cases, a dental crown may be recommended following root canal treatment. Root canal therapy is performed to remove infected or damaged pulp from inside the tooth, which is usually severely broken down or heavily restored by the time it gets to that stage.. A crown can be placed over the treated tooth to provide reinforcement, protection and restoration of function and aesthetics. By integrating a crown into your treatment plan after a root canal, you can ensure the long-term success and durability of your tooth restoration.
Dental crowns traditionally may be crafted from a diverse range of materials, however today crowns are generally all fully ceramic. At Dental Holistix, ceramic crowns are a preferred choice due to their natural colour match, translucency and biocompatibility.
Internal metal cores are no longer required for strength, and additionally these often lead to an overly opaque-looking tooth, with a dark margin visible if the gum recedes slightly over time. There are different types of ceramics available with their own individual uses and advantages:
Emax (or lithium disilicate): This is the most common material used whether made in-house with a digital scanner, CAD-CAM software and mill, or through an external dental laboratory. This material is of similar strength and appearance to natural tooth enamel and blends in extremely well with the surrounding teeth. It can also be chemically bonded to the underlying tooth structure, meaning there is a strong seal against bacterial acids.
Often for front teeth in the aesthetic zone, it can be layered with porcelain to blend in even more perfectly with surrounding teeth.
Zirconia: This is available in a variety of strengths ranging from similar to emax and the natural tooth, through to around three times the compressive strength. This has great applications where more strength is required such as a bridge or an implant, or in a patient who is a heavy grinder or clencher or their teeth. The greater the strength the more opaque (white) looking the result, but when required in the aesthetic zone can be layered with other more translucent / less opaque ceramics to look natural and life-like.
The average lifespan of dental crowns historically sits around 15 years, but this data includes many of the older style crowns with metal cores that were prone to chipping or exposing dark margins. Commonly now we can expect at least 15 years- depending on factors such as the amount of original tooth structure remaining and habits such as bruxism/ grinding. It is rare to see a crown last less than five years, and we would generally replace these under a full warranty cover. Practising good oral hygiene, and avoiding or addressing habits such as teeth grinding can prolong the longevity of your dental crowns.
Absolutely! Dental crowns offer a worthwhile investment in preserving and enhancing your dental health. While the initial cost may seem daunting, the long-term benefits of improved strength, functionality and aesthetics make dental crowns a valuable treatment option. A ceramic crown is generally around three times the cost of an equivalent-sized composite (white filling) restoration, but would be expected to last proportionally and will significantly increase the chances of keeping a previously weakened tooth for a life-time. Additionally the glossy finish remains stable over the long term contributing to a significant increase in aesthetics and cleanability compared to a white filling over time.
A dental crown is often prescribed if more than half to two thirds of the natural tooth structure is missing. The overlaying concept protects the tooth from further stresses and cracking particularly under a heavy bite. Alternatively the tooth could be built up with a large composite restoration and be crowned with a ceramic material in the future, or if the medium to long term prognosis is poor, an extraction and dental implant may be recommended.
At Dental Holistix, dental crowns are a routine yet essential treatment option, offering both same-day and traditional procedures to meet your needs. To learn more about dental crowns and explore your treatment options, contact our treatment coordinator on treatments@dentalholistix.co.nz
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At Dental Holistix, we’re here to support your overall wellness, starting with your oral health. Whether you’re looking for preventative care, specialised treatment or just have questions, our dedicated team is ready to help.
Together, let’s make sure your smile and your health are at their best.
