At Smile Hub Dental Clinic in Bayside Medical Centre we provide dental crown treatments which are also known as dental caps. It completely covers or encases the entire tooth and restores it to it’s original shape and size. A ceramic crown strengthens the tooth when a filling is no longer adequate to protect the broken down or heavily filled tooth. At Smile Hub Dental Clinic in Sutton, Dublin 13 we provide patients with several different types of crowns depending on the clinical case. Each crown is highly durable and can last many years. Porcelain crowns are very successful at matching the shape, size and shade of your natural teeth so that nobody will know that you have a crown. In the back of the mouth metal ceramic crowns or zirconia crowns are excellent for patients with a heavy or strong bite.

At Smile Hub Dental Clinic in Bayside Medical Centre your dentist will recommend a crown if you have a broken or fractured tooth where a regular filling material does not provide enough protection against future fractures. Weakened teeth which have undergone a lot of decay or if there have been large fillings or fractured fillings may require a crown placement. If your tooth has had root canal treatment then a crown may be needed to protect the weakened broken down tooth. At Smile Hub Dental Clinic your dentist may also recommend a crown if your tooth supports a removeable denture.

A white or metal filling can be used when there is a small to medium sized hole after tooth decay or caries is removed. Sufficient tooth structure must remain to hold the filling in place. When a large part of the tooth is missing a filling can be placed but the tooth is weakened and there is increased risk of tooth fracture.

A  dental crown completely covers the remaining weakened tooth structure preventing further breakages and restores the appearance and the original shape of the broken down tooth. A crown can also act like a splint and hold the tooth together to prevent toothaches.

• A dental crown procedure can take 1-3 visits depending on the case
• Local anaesthetic will be administered
• Your tooth will be reshaped to accommodate the thickness of the crown to ensure that your teeth can meet properly when your new crown is bonded or cemented in place
• A dental impression will be taken of your tooth and sent to the dental laboratory where your crown will be made. At Smile Hub Dental Clinic we can also take a scan of your tooth using Cerec technology. A shade will be selected for the porcelain to ensure that your new crown matches your teeth and that your crown looks natural when in place. You will not be able to tell which tooth has been crowned as it will look like a healthy tooth!
• A temporary dental crown or cap will be made if your crown is not made on-site in the milling machine. If your crown is made in an external dental laboratory it will take 2 weeks to return from the technicians
• At your next appointment your temporary crown will be removed. Your permanent crown will be bonded or cemented in place. The fit and bite will be checked.

If your dental impression is sent to an external laboratory to fabricate your crown then your dentist will place a temporary crown over your tooth using temporary cement. If your temporary crown breaks or comes off then it is advisable to attend your treating dentist in Smile Hub Dental Clinic as soon as possible. Please try to keep hard, chewy or sticky food away from your temporary crown during treatment to avoid temporary crowns coming off or breaking.

Research has shown that 90% of crowns last 10 years. A dental crown may need to be replaced if it fractures or if decay occurs at the crown margin. Crowns can wear with age particularly if a patient has a grinding or clenching habit. It is important to wear a nightguard each night if you have a teeth grinding or clenching habit. Dark colours at the crown margin can also occur due to gum recession or poor oral hygiene requiring a new crown.

A root canal treated tooth has a large part of the tooth missing due to tooth decay which weakens the strength of the remaining tooth. A crown may be recommended on a root canal treated tooth to prevent a root fracture and loss of the tooth. Dental research recommend placing a crown on all root canal treated molar teeth.

If your teeth at the front of your mouth have a poor appearance then you may benefit from custom made well fitting crowns. Cosmetic dental crowns are indicated in cases of teeth crowding, misshapen teeth or discoloured teeth to improve the appearance of patients smiles. Porcelain crowns are suitable for these teeth as they have superior aesthetic qualities and blend very naturally into peoples smiles.

Bonding restorations in dentistry allow minimally invasive dental procedures. At Smile Hub Dental Clinic we believe in conservative dental treatment and our dentists avoid cutting down natural and healthy teeth. Bonded restorations are the best solution as they involve minimal intervention by your dentist. This restorations include:

• Adhesive Bridge: this dental bridge replaces a missing tooth and avoids the need to file down the nearby tooth
• Composite veneer: these are custom made to improve the shape, contour and shade of your teeth. They involve minimal preparation and are a very cost effective of enhancing your smile
• Bonded build up: if your tooth is extensively worn down then a bonded build up an help restore your tooth’s natural function and appearance
• Bonded ceramic onlay or inlay: these restorations are used when your tooth has a large filling but does not need a full crown. Bonded onlays and inlays provide a cosmetic, strong and long-lasting dental alternative to metal fillings