- You are here:
-
Home
- Treatments
Services (5)
Crowns are an ideal way to repair teeth that have been broken, or have been weakened by decay or a very large filling.
A crown could be used for a number of other reasons, for example:
- you may have a discoloured filling and would like to improve the appearance of the tooth
- you may have had a root filling and need a crown to protect what is left of the tooth
- it may help to hold a bridge or denture firmly in place.
What is a crown made of?
Crowns can be made of a variety of different materials and new materials are continually being introduced. Some of the most popular options are listed below.
- Porcelain bonded to precious metal: this is what most crowns are made from. A precious metal base is made and then porcelain is applied in layers over it.
- Porcelain: these crowns are made entirely out of porcelain and are not as strong as bonded crowns. But they can look very natural and are most often used for front teeth.
- Ceramic: this modern technique offers a metal-free alternative, which can give the strength of a bonded crown and the appearance of a porcelain crown. Therefore it is suitable for use in all areas of the mouth.
- Glass: these crowns look very natural and can be used anywhere in the mouth.
- Gold-alloy crowns: gold is one of the oldest filling materials. Today it is used with other metal alloys to increase its strength, which makes it very hard-wearing. These crowns are silver or gold in colour.
Most people have fillings of one sort or another in their mouths.
Nowadays fillings can be natural looking. Many people are more conscious about the way they look, so they don't want silver fillings that show when they laugh or smile.
Are white fillings expensive?
Costs can vary quite a lot from dentist to dentist. They usually depend on the size and type of white filling used and the time it takes to complete the treatment. Costs may also vary from region to region, but your dental team will be able to give you an idea of the cost before you agree to treatment.
Are white fillings as good as silver amalgam fillings?
White fillings have always been considered less long-lasting than silver amalgam fillings. But there are now new materials available that are comparable to silver amalgam, and these are proving to be very successful. The life expectancy of a white filling can depend greatly on where it is in your mouth and how heavily your teeth come together when you bite. Your dental team can advise you on how long your fillings should last.
A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain made to fit over the front surface of a tooth, like a false fingernail fits over a nail.
When would I need a veneer?
Veneers can improve the colour, shape and position of your teeth. A precise shade of porcelain can be chosen to give the right colour to improve a single discoloured tooth or to lighten your front teeth. A veneer can make a chipped tooth look whole again. The porcelain covers the whole of the front of the tooth, with a thicker section replacing the broken part. Veneers can also be used to close small gaps, when orthodontics (braces) are not suitable. If one tooth is slightly out of position, a veneer can sometimes be fitted to bring it into line with the others.
What are the advantages of veneers?
Veneers make teeth look natural and healthy. Because they are very thin and are held in place by a special, strong adhesive, very little preparation of the tooth is needed. Some types of veneers don't need any preparation at all.
Tooth whitening can be a very effective way of lightening the natural colour of your teeth without removing any of the tooth surface. It cannot make a complete colour change, but it may lighten the existing shade.
There are a number of reasons why you might get your teeth whitened. Everyone is different; and just as our hair and skin colour vary, so do our teeth. Very few people have brilliant-white teeth, and our teeth can also become more discoloured as we get older.
Your teeth can also be stained on the surface by food and drinks such as tea, coffee, red wine and blackcurrant. Smoking can also stain teeth.
‘Calculus' or tartar can also affect the colour of your teeth. Some people may have staining under the surface, which can be caused by certain antibiotics or by tiny cracks in the teeth which take up stains.
At Anniesland Essential Dental Care, we practice the latest and most up-to-date treatment methods, thus assuring excellence in all aspects of dental care.
