Crowns | Colchester Dental Su

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are essential restorative treatments that help repair damaged or missing teeth. They serve as protective caps, restoring both function and aesthetics. At Colchester Dental Surgery, we offer various types of dental crowns. Common types are porcelain bonded crowns, Emax crowns, and zirconia crowns.

A crown usually takes two visits to place. In the first visit, the tooth is reshaped to accommodate the crown. Impressions are taken to create a customized crown. A temporary crown is placed to protect the prepared tooth while the permanent crown is made in the lab. Whilst you have the temporary crown, avoid sticky and hard foods and keep the area clean. In the second visit, the temporary crown is removed. The fit and shade of the new permanent crown are checked. Once both you and the dentist are satisfied, the permanent crown is cemented in place.

Porcelain Bonded Crowns

Composition: Porcelain bonded crowns consist of a metal base (that can consist of precious or non-precious alloys) covered with a layer of porcelain.
Appearance: They offer a natural appearance due to the porcelain outer layer, which resembles natural teeth. However, to block out the appearance of the underlying metal, they are more opaque compared to Emax crowns. This makes them relatively less aesthetic. Furthermore, the metal base may result in a visible grey line near the gum line when the gum recedes.
Strength: While they are durable, they are not as strong as zirconia crowns because the porcelain can chip away from the underlying metal base, leaving the silver coloured metal exposed.
Tooth reduction: Bonded crowns require the most amount of healthy tooth structure to be removed to make room for both the porcelain and underlying metal. This may make them less suitable for teeth with large nerve chambers. Your dentist will discuss this with you if this is the case.

Emax Crowns

Composition: Emax crowns are made from a special type of ceramic material called lithium disilicate ceramic. This material provides strength and aesthetics.
Appearance: Emax crowns are the most aesthetic crowns compared to bonded crowns and zirconia crowns. They closely resemble natural teeth, blending seamlessly with your smile. Therefore, they are ideal for front teeth.
Strength: Emax crowns are durable and long-lasting, but not as strong as zirconia. They are not recommended for patients that grind heavily nor for heavy chewing on back teeth.
Tooth reduction: Emax crowns require a minimal to moderate amount of healthy tooth structure to be removed.

Zirconia Crowns

Composition: Zirconia crowns are a ceramic containing zirconium.
Appearance: Zirconia crowns are more aesthetic than porcelain bonded to metal crowns as they do not have an underlying metal base. They may be less see-through than emax crowns.
Strength: Zirconia is the strongest of crowns and is suitable for heavy grinders and chewing on the back teeth. This also makes them highly suitable for bridges.
Tooth reduction: Zirconia is strong in thin sections, so requires very minimal tooth reduction to achieve a strong functional and aesthetic result.

Choosing the right crown depends on individual needs, aesthetics, and functional requirements. Consult your dentist to determine the best option for your specific case.