Treatments
Dental Crowns
Armour for a tooth that has been through a lot — restoring its shape, strength and appearance in two visits.
Protecting a tooth that has already been through something
Teeth that have been root-treated, heavily filled, cracked or worn by grinding are structurally compromised even when they feel fine. A crown restores the shape and strength of the whole tooth rather than patching one surface of it.
It’s the least glamorous work we do and among the most valuable — a crown fitted at the right time is often what keeps a natural tooth in place for another twenty years, rather than losing it and facing a dental implant or a bridge instead.
Featured treatments
What crowns do
When a tooth needs a crown
A dental crown is a custom-made cap that fits over the whole visible part of a tooth. We’d usually recommend one when:
- The tooth has had root canal treatment, which leaves it more brittle
- The tooth is heavily filled and structurally at risk
- The tooth has already cracked or broken
- An existing crown is old, ill-fitting or beginning to fail
- The tooth has been worn down by grinding
A heavily filled tooth without a crown is a tooth waiting to fracture — and a fracture can mean losing it altogether. Fitting a crown at the right moment protects what’s left.
The materials we use
Crowns are made from porcelain, ceramic, zirconia or gold, and the right choice depends on where the tooth sits and how hard you bite.
Porcelain, Emax and zirconia are tooth-coloured and, fitted well, are difficult to tell from a natural tooth. Zirconia is the strongest of the three, which makes it useful further back in the mouth.
Gold is still occasionally the best material for a back tooth taking heavy load. It is kinder to the opposing tooth than some ceramics and is exceptionally durable.
What happens, step by step
Crown treatment is normally two appointments.
1. Preparation. We shape the tooth so the crown will fit over it, take a digital scan rather than a traditional impression, and fit a temporary crown while the permanent one is made.
2. Fitting. The laboratory-made crown is tried in, checked for fit, bite and colour, then cemented permanently in place.
Protecting the work afterwards
If you grind your teeth — and a surprising number of people do without knowing — a custom-made nightguard is worth having. It sits between the upper and lower teeth and absorbs the force of grinding rather than letting the crown take it. Over-the-counter guards don’t fit accurately and can make jaw strain worse; a guard made from a scan of your own bite is a different product entirely.
What it costs
A white porcelain, zirconia or Emax crown is £454 to £945 depending on the material and the tooth. A gold crown is approximately £1,090, depending on weight. An implant with a crown starts at £3,080. You’ll have a written quote before treatment begins — see the full fee guide.
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