Prior to a tooth being restored with a crown, we need to build a strong foundation on the remainder of the tooth being capped. The foundation will strengthen the tooth and ensure the crown is well-retained. The foundation is often called a “Core” and may be manufactured from a range of materials. It could be a bonded filling or a glass-fibre post. It may also be a cast gold post produced in a lab. You will normally only need a post if there is only a small amount of structure remaining. We may need to provide root canal therapy if the dental nerve is inflamed.

After the foundation has been created, we can prepare the tooth for the crown. We can then create a model of the prepared tooth. Crowns can be ceramic, porcelain, gold or made from base metal alloys. Ceramic crowns are a great match for the front of the mouth and offer a very natural appearance. They are made from tooth-colored porcelain. Porcelain fused to metal offers an extremely strong bond because of the metal structure and is remarkably durable. Gold alloys feature a fusion of copper, gold and other metals and offer a strong bond to the tooth. They won’t wear the tooth itself away and won’t fracture. Base metal alloys may be ideal if you don’t have much healthy tooth left. The crowns are made from non-noble metals that are extremely resistant to corrosion.