A Robina Dental crown is a device that covers and encircles the remains of a damaged tooth, either to restore its original shape, size, or function, or to hide discoloration. This procedure is usually performed by a dentist or prosthodontist, although some people are referred to a specialist by their family doctor.
Getting a dental crown is a process that requires two visits to the dentist, and involves some initial preparation work before the actual crown can be made. First, the tooth in question will be numbed and the dentist or prosthodontist will reshape it to make room for the crown.
Once the tooth is reshaped and ready for a crown, impressions will be taken of it and its surrounding teeth so that the crown can be accurately shaped to match them. This can be done with a mold or a digital scan, depending on the type of crown you’re receiving.
The impression is sent to a lab where it will be manufactured into a custom-made crown. The impression is also used to determine the colour of the crown so that it can be shaded correctly and will blend in with your smile as closely as possible.
Choosing the Best Material for Your Crown
There are many types of restorative materials available, and each one has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, ‘all-metal’ crowns are thin and require less of the tooth to be removed than ‘porcelain-fused-to-metal’ (PFM) crowns.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, on the other hand, are thicker and require more filing of the tooth. This means they are less aesthetically pleasing than all-metal crowns and can be hard to match to your natural tooth color.
‘Monolithic’ crowns, on the other hand, are computer designed and milled from a single uniform block. These crowns are the strongest and longest-lasting. They can be very aesthetically pleasing but the colour is hard to match, and they have minimal light reflective properties.
Other Restorative Options
During the process of preparing your tooth for a crown, it is not uncommon to have the cavity treated, as this can significantly reduce the amount of natural tooth that needs to be removed. This makes the entire procedure more efficient and streamlined, and will help to maximise the longevity of your crown.
If the natural tooth is very decayed, a root canal may need to be performed before it can support a crown. This will require additional visits to the dentist, and it is common for a dental post system to be inserted into the root canal first to help anchor the core filling to the tooth.
The next step is to fit a temporary crown, which will protect your tooth while you wait for the permanent crown to be crafted and sewed on. Temporary crowns are often made from stainless steel or resin, which is a metal-free alternative that can be matched to the natural color of your teeth.
During your second visit, the temporary crown will be removed and you will have the new crown fitted over the tooth in question. The dentist will examine the new crown and make sure it fits, looks, and functions correctly before cementing it into place. If all goes well, you will head home with your new crown.