Getting A Dental Crown: Understanding Today’s Procedures

Improvements in technology have changed a lot in our lives, from the touch screens on mobile phones to the best safety features in the latest cars. Like these wonders, technology has also changed the way dental procedures, like getting a crown, are performed. Improvements in dental technology have made dental crown procedures easier, more efficient and longer-lasting than ever before.

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a specially-made cap that covers and repairs a damaged tooth. This durable cap provides the tooth with the protection it needs to perform as a natural tooth, restoring both its strength and physical shape. A crown not only shields the entire tooth but also makes it look like a beautiful, natural tooth.

Why do you need a Dental Crown?

The most common reasons for getting a crown are to repair damage, to protect a tooth following a root canal or to fix cosmetic issues. Your dentist will recommend a crown for teeth that have been damaged by decay, injury or as a result of long-term wear.

If you have cracked or severely worn teeth or a filling that won’t stick, a crown may be the solution. After a root canal, your dentist may recommend a crown to protect the root of the tooth. He or she may also suggest a crown to fix some cosmetic issues like misshapen or discoloured teeth, although it is more likely these could be fixed with a more conservative approach, like porcelain veneers.

The dangers of delaying

Not many people look forward to a dentist visit, but it’s crucial to get a dental crown procedure done as soon as possible. Delaying can lead to severe issues, even tooth loss, that will require more costly procedures to repair. If you’ve had a root canal, a crown will help prevent cracks and fractures that are incredibly painful and expensive to fix.

The details of standard dental crown procedure

You can expect a typical dental crown procedure to take two appointments. During the first appointment, the dentist will prepare the tooth for fitting by reshaping your tooth to accommodate the crown and taking a mould of your tooth. After this appointment, there is a wait while the mould of your tooth is sent to the lab to be made. Once this is complete, a second appointment is scheduled for the crown to be placed.

Why the wait?

The current standard procedure requires time to create a crown that fits your tooth perfectly. The mould of your tooth, taken at your first appointment, needs to be sent to a speciality laboratory and once there your customised crown is made. Once this crown is made, you schedule your second appointment to have it placed. In the interim, you are given a temporary crown to ensure no additional damage is done to the tooth.

This method is time-consuming, so it’s not efficient for those who need a crown quickly or those short on time.

But, new technologies have allowed us to improve the process.

Technological advances making it better

The latest advances in technology allow dentists to improve this process from beginning to end. Many dental practices have now adopted Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing to make the procedure much faster, more comfortable and much less of a hassle.

We use the latest E4D technology to provide our patients with same day crowns. E4D is a Finnish technology stemming from 30 years of testing and innovation, which uses a high-speed camera to create a digital image of your tooth that is then used to create a seamless, custom crown. This new process makes the previous, uncomfortable procedure of taking an impression unnecessary.

And it’s all done in our office during your first visit.

This means less pain and discomfort for you as it avoids the necessity of a temporary crown altogether. The result of a E4D crown is a beautiful, natural-looking tooth that no one will ever know is there.

Our competitively-priced, custom same day crown procedure typically costs around $1600. You also have the option of making fortnightly installments from as little as $25 a fortnight with MediPay (terms & conditions apply). With your health fund, it’s likely that some of this cost will be covered.

Want to know more?

We’re happy to provide you with more information and answer any questions you may have. We can also provide an estimate for the work that takes into account your needs and your level of health cover.

Make an appointment today and find out if the same-day crown procedure is the right fit for you.