Temporary and permanent crowns

• Траяна Камбарева •Cosmetic dentistry, Crowns and bridges

The crown is a “cap” shaped and constructed to fit the size of the problematic tooth. It is designed to restore the shape, function, and aesthetics of the missing tooth.

It is used in cases where:

  • Damaged or missing part of the tooth
  • There is a very large filling that could break.
  • The tooth is crooked or discolored, and in cases where
  • The tooth is cracked, broken, or severely worn.

The dentist administers anesthesia, drills the tooth, takes an impression, which is used in the dental laboratory to make the crown. The process of making the crown takes about 1 week or 5 working days. During this period, the patient can have a temporary crown placed immediately in the dentist’s office (made of composite) or have one made in the laboratory (as soon as possible, usually on the same day, made of plastic). The temporary crown is relatively inexpensive and is placed to protect the filed tooth and restore its function and aesthetics. It is advisable to avoid chewing gum or other sticky or hard foods so that the temporary crowns do not come off. We also recommend that you do not use dental floss around the root. However, if the temporary crown falls out and is intact, it can be reattached, so call your dentist immediately.

Types of crowns, depending on the choice of material from which they can be made:

  • Metal (or gold) with or without ceramic coating
  • Pure ceramic (suitable for people with metal allergies)

The first type are durable due to the metal content under the ceramic and aesthetic because they have a porcelain coating. They are mainly used for distal (back) teeth.

For front teeth, all-ceramic crowns (possibly with a zirconium base) are more commonly used. They are strong, biocompatible, and offer exceptional aesthetics.

The price is determined by the choice of material from which the crown can be made – metal, porcelain, gold, or zirconium. The average lifespan of a crown is between 10 and 30 years, depending on factors such as oral hygiene and habits such as grinding, nail biting, ice chewing, and others.