Dental Crown

What is a Crown?

Over time, it is a common condition for teeth to become damaged due to various reasons. Tooth decay, injury or even just the natural process of use can cause damage to teeth. Accordingly, it can be seen that teeth begin to lose their shape or size.

Coverings that can be placed on the shape of teeth and on the teeth are called dental crowns. The purpose of dental crown treatment is to restore the shape, size, appearance and strength of the tooth.

Basically, dental crown treatment is the reduction and coating of teeth that are broken due to trauma or decay or face excessive material loss for any reason or teeth that have undergone root canal treatment. One of the most important features of dental crown treatment is that it fully adapts to the damaged tooth underneath and has the feature of being a dental restoration that surrounds the tooth from all sides.

A tooth treated with dental crowns can be restored to its natural shape, size and function. It is also possible to protect the underlying tooth structure against the risk of further damage. By improving the appearance of the tooth, the patient can regain their smile and self-confidence. If proper care is provided, dental crowns have a long service life.

Dental crowns are also called crown coatings or crown prosthesis. In crown coating treatment, which is applied to a small number of missing teeth in the mouth, the supporting teeth are cut and reduced in size and crown prostheses prepared in the laboratory are placed on the teeth. Prosthesis; It is very important in terms of completing the missing teeth in the mouth and ensuring that functions such as chewing and speaking are performed correctly.

What are the Application Areas of Crown Coatings?

Crown coating is a method widely used today to eliminate many dental disorders. Crown coating treatment is applied by reducing the size of the tooth and covering it. However, there are various points where crown coating treatment and crown bridge treatment differ from each other.

Crown prostheses; It is a procedure used in cases where the shape of the tooth is deformed to prevent tooth decay, tooth fractures and teeth that have weakened due to various reasons from breaking. It stands out as one of the methods applied for aesthetic purposes to whiten the teeth.

In recent years, it is clearly seen that zirconium has become widespread as a ceramic substructure used in crown dental coatings. Zirconium is used to support ceramic coatings as a highly resistant material, and ceramic coatings supported by zirconium reflect light and contribute to the gums having a pinker and healthier appearance.

The main application areas of crown coating treatment, which is a restorative treatment widely used in dentistry, can be listed as follows:

• Crown coating can be used to strengthen and protect teeth weakened due to large cavities.
• Crown coating can be applied to broken and cracked teeth in order to protect the structure of the tooth and restore its functionality.
• Crown coating treatment can be preferred to protect teeth that have undergone root canal treatment and increase their durability.
• Crown coating can be preferred for aesthetic purposes to improve the appearance of teeth with deformities or discoloration.
• In case of excessive tooth wear, crown coating treatment can be used to protect the natural structure of the teeth and support the chewing function.
• In bridge prostheses used to replace missing teeth, crown coating can be applied to the supporting teeth.

Why is Dental Crown Treatment Needed?

Dental crowns are a practical and functional dentistry treatment that can be applied to eliminate different dental health problems. Some situations where dental crown treatment is needed are listed below:

• To restore teeth with large fillings and insufficient dental support,
• To close the gaps between teeth called “Diastema”,
• To correct deformities in teeth,
• To prevent fractures by strengthening weak teeth,
• To form the superstructures of dental implants,
• To provide a more aesthetic appearance to teeth with discoloration and staining,
• To correct problems in teeth that have experienced excessive material loss due to decay, fracture, trauma or any other reason.

How is Crown Treatment Performed?

In order to apply crown treatment, it is first evaluated whether the patient is suitable for treatment. The tooth planned to be treated is prepared for application. For this purpose, an impression is taken from the appropriately reduced tooth. On the day the impression is taken, temporary crowns are prepared to protect the patient’s reduced teeth and temporarily bonded to the teeth. After the permanent dental crowns are produced, the temporary crowns are removed. The permanent crowns are permanently bonded to the teeth using special adhesives and the crown treatment is completed.

It is possible to use many different materials in the production of dental crowns. The material to be used is decided on a person-specific basis. At this stage, factors such as the location of the tooth to be treated, its function, the location of the gum tissue, how much of the tooth is visible when the patient smiles and the color of the surrounding teeth are taken into consideration.

When metal crowns are preferred; It is possible to use various metals, especially gold, nickel, palladium and chrome. There is very little risk of chipping or breaking in metal crowns. It has long-term durability in terms of wear. It best withstands biting and chewing forces.

Metal-fused porcelain crowns combine the durability of metal with the natural appearance of porcelain. Metal-fused porcelain crowns, which can be applied to both front and back teeth, can be easily matched to the patient’s natural tooth color.

Pressed ceramic crowns have a hard inner core. Ceramic is melted and pressed at high temperatures to prepare the inner core. Then, many layers of porcelain are added to the veneers, which have the ability to mimic the translucent structure of natural tooth enamel.

All-ceramic or porcelain crowns mimic the appearance of tooth enamel much better than other types of veneers. They are also a highly effective solution for patients who are sensitive to metal.

The average lifespan of dental crowns is 5 to 15 years. The lifespan of crowns may vary depending on usage habits. The amount of wear caused by use, personal habits affecting oral health, and how much care the person takes in oral hygiene practices are factors that affect the lifespan. For dental crowns to have a long service life, teeth should not be grinded, clenched, ice should not be chewed, nails should not be bitten and hard objects such as pencils should not be bitten.

Dental crowns do not require any special care. On the other hand, in order for dental crowns to be used healthily and safely, the reduced teeth under the dental crowns should be protected against decay and gum diseases. Therefore, necessary care should be taken to ensure the best oral hygiene of patients who receive dental crown treatment. Within the scope of the established oral and dental care routine, teeth should be brushed twice a day and dental floss should definitely be used. Particular care should be taken regarding the hygiene of the area where the gum meets the teeth. In addition to all these, hard foods and objects should never be bitten to prevent cracking of the material from which the dental crown is produced.

Crown Treatment Prices

Crown treatment prices may vary depending on the type of material, how many teeth will receive crown treatment, the scope of the treatment, the quality of the materials used, the experience of the dentist and the pricing policy of the clinic where the treatment is performed.