White Crowns & Inlays

A crown is a way of restoring a broken, or unsightly tooth.

• Damaged, worn, or discoloured front teeth can be made beautiful and more attractive
• Teeth that have been root-filled may also be crowned to re-build the shape and appearance of the tooth

If a lot of wear has taken place between your upper and lower teeth, the effect on your face can be very ageing. Crowns can be used to restore the lost height and with it, your appearance.

Crowns can be made from many different materials in order to achieve the best results in a particular situation. The three most popular techniques are:

Full metal crowns – usually gold or precious metal alloy

Porcelain bonded to metal crown – this is made from a thin shell of cast precious or non-precious metal covered with tooth coloured dental porcelain, which is shaded and sculpted to match your natural teeth.

Full porcelain crown – in suitable circumstances a crown can be made entirely from dental porcelain.

How it is done

To prepare a tooth for a crown, the outside is re-shaped, after which impressions are taken, and used by the dental technician to create casts of your mouth, on which the crown is modelled.

At the next appointment, your dentist will ‘try in’ the crown to check the shape, fit, and colour. If you and your dentist are happy with the overall effect, the crown will be secured to place.

Number of Appointments	Usually two.
Completion of Treatment	Usually about a week, can be less.
Advantages	Colour stable and stain resistant Excellent colour match Restores your tooth shape
	Strengthens and restores your teeth.
	Colour stable and stain resistant.
Examples of Use	To cover weak, chipped, broken, or discoloured teeth, to improve the alignment of crooked teeth, or restore lost tooth height.
Care	Brush and floss daily as usual.
	Regular examination and hygiene visits as usual.

Inlays

An inlay covers a damaged tooth and is a way of restoring a broken or unsightly tooth, so that the tooth is rebuilt and as well as more attractive. Decay-damaged, worn or discoloured teeth can be made beautiful and can resist further wear by using inlays.

Inlays are typically used on back teeth. They are seated within the tooth, but can be extended to cover the points (cusps) of the teeth.

Types of Inlay

Inlays can be made from many different materials in order to achieve the best results in a particular situation. Inlays are made by highly skilled dental technicians and each inlay is individually shaded and sculpted, undergoing many different processes on its way to becoming a beautiful, functional and reliable part of your smile.

Techniques available are:

• Metallic inlays
• Porcelain inlays