Dental Crowns Melbourne

A crown (or tooth cap) is a covering that fits over the tooth, restoring it to its original shape, size strength and function.

A crown is the gold standard for protecting and strengthening a tooth that cannot be restored with a filling or another type of dental treatment.

When there isn’t enough root structure to support a crown, Dr Kasen opts for his dental implant Melbourne treatment.

Dr Kasen has a special interest using tooth coloured porcelain crowns that blend seamlessly with the natural tooth restoring both strength and aesthetics.

Part of his special interest involves minimal tooth preparation, which means he preserves the majority of your tooth.

This is a highly meticulous and specialised skill set that ensures longevity and strength of both the crown and your tooth.

What is a Porcelain Crown?

Porcelain crowns, ceramic crowns, or porcelain teeth, as they are sometimes referred to, are an option for people who have damaged teeth.

These are custom-made caps or crowns that are bonded to the tooth, fitting over it and restoring the tooth to its original size, strength, and function.

Crowns are considered to be the number one standard for protecting and strengthening a tooth that cannot be repaired with fillings or other types of dental treatments.

Porcelain crowns are crafted using tooth-coloured porcelain with the aim of blending seamlessly with your other natural teeth – so not only do they strengthen the tooth or teeth being capped, they make your smile more aesthetically pleasing.

An experienced cosmetic dentist can apply porcelain crowns with minimal tooth preparation, meaning that the majority of the tooth is preserved underneath the cap.

Applying dental crowns is a specialised skill set that when performed properly and meticulously can significantly improve the longevity, strength, and appearance of your teeth.

Types of Crowns

There are several types of crowns, porcelain (tooth colored crown) are the most popular.

Porcelain Crowns

This type of crown is ideal for front teeth or any teeth that are visible in the aesthetic zone.

These crowns are tooth coloured and blend in with your natural teeth.

This type of crown has traditionally been thought to have the most aesthetic appeal, but not offer the strength of the others.

This is no longer the case.

Current advances in ceramic materials and bonding techniques have allowed for strengths and aesthetics that are comparable or greater than traditional porcelain materials.

Some if these materials include Zirconia crowns, Zirconia reinforced Lithium Silicate Crowns and Lithium Disilicate crowns.

Dr Kasen has a special interest in porcelain crowns and in fact 95% of all crowns he places are porcelain.

Porcelain Fused to Gold

This type of crown is a gold-based crown with a porcelain coating that has been layered to the outside giving it a more natural look.

The gold base is hidden under the porcelain and is not visible.

This type of crown is very strong and blends well with your teeth but can chip exposing the metal beneath.

Gold Crowns

This type of crown is often recommended for teeth in the back of your mouth, when bite forces are excessive or the extent of the decay or breakdown of your tooth is so severe that any other type of crown is not suitable.

Gold crowns have similar wear characteristics of your natural teeth, that means they wear down over the years and may need to be replaced.

Gold crowns offer a lot of strength but are very visible when you smile or laugh.

Crowns are highly durable and will last many years, but like most dental restorations, they may eventually need to be replaced.

Porcelain crowns are made to match the shape, size, and color of your teeth, giving you a long-lasting, beautiful smile.

There are numerous reasons why crowns are the ideal choice of treatment, these include:

• Broken or fractured teeth
• Cosmetic enhancement
• Decayed teeth
• Fractured fillings
• Large fillings
• Root filled teeth

How Do You Know That You Need a Dental Crown?

Dental crowns are considered an excellent course of treatment for broken or fractured teeth, decayed teeth, fractured fillings, large fillings, root filled teeth, or other cosmetic dentistry services.

If you have a tooth that is physically or mentally painful (based on appearance) then you should see a dentist who specializes in crowns as soon as possible.

Often, radiographs or bite-wing x-rays are used to diagnose and determine the proper fit of dental crowns.

Dental x-rays are often referred to as radiography or radiographs; the process of taking and reviewing radiographs is similar to other types of x-rays.

How Much Do Porcelain Crowns Cost?

The cost of a dental crown in Melbourne can vary depending on the type of crown, material, and the porcelain crown dentist can cost you anywhere between $1,850 to $2,500 (Updated 2024).

The cost of porcelain crowns depends on a whole range of elements, including the state of your teeth and your location.

For instance, in Australia, it can be fairly affordable and the costs may be even partially covered through health funds. But of course, you should always check with your dentist!

Other factors that affect the price of dental crowns include the material of the crown, the location of the tooth, the size of the tooth, and any other damage to the tooth or surrounding teeth that needs to be repaired.

In addition, different dentists may charge more or less depending on their location, experience level and difficulty.

Do you think you need a dental crown or crowns?

Talk to your dentist or their office manager to get a better idea as to the cost and whether or not your insurance will cover the procedure.

How Long Do Porcelain Crowns Last?

While porcelain crowns are strong and can last a long time, they do need to be looked after and regularly examined, and possibly replaced if they become chipped or damaged.

Small chips in porcelain crowns can be repaired with composite resin without replacing the entire crowns, while larger chips or excessive chipping may require replacing the crown completely.

Keep in mind that crowns can get loose or even fall off if the crown is improper fit or if the cement is washed out from underneath it.

If you feel that your crown is loose you should see your dentist immediately – not only may it fall off, a loose crown can cause bacteria to get underneath the crown, causing increased tooth decay and other problems.

If your crown does fall off due to damage from sticky, chewy, or hard foods or other issues, you can use over-the-counter dental adhesive or tooth cement to reattach it temporarily until you get to see your dentist for a replacement.

Be sure to call your dentist immediately if you lose a crown in any circumstance.

That said, properly fitted dental crowns should feel and operate just like your natural healthy teeth, with normal biting and chewing capabilities.

If you feel like your crowns are loose or feel insecure in your mouth, then you should contact your dentist immediately so they can be assessed and repaired or replaced as necessary.

What Does Getting a Porcelain Crown in Melbourne Involve?

A crown procedure usually requires two appointments.

At the first appointment your tooth will be prepared to the exacting standards required for an accurate and well fitted crown.

The time and precision required at this appointment is critical to the outcome and long-term success of your crown.

Needless to say, this is all accomplished under a local anesthesia.

The tooth will be assessed for internal cracks and all decay will also be removed.

Once these details are accomplished, your temporary crown will be placed with temporary cement and your bite will be checked to ensure you are biting properly.

Several highly accurate molds (or impressions) that will be used to create your custom crown.

This may involve a physical mold or a digital 3D scan of your tooth.

A mold will also be used to create a temporary crown which will stay on your tooth for approximately two weeks until your new crown is fabricated by our dental laboratory.

At your second appointment your temporary crown will be removed, the tooth will be cleaned and your new crown will be meticulously bonded to your tooth.

Your bite is double checked to ensure the crown accurately matches your bite and chewing movements.

You will then be given instructions how to look after your crown and ensure you get the greatest longevity.

As with all your teeth, your new crown will be monitored regularly at your subsequent hygiene and examination appointments.

If you are seeking one of the best cosmetic dentists in Melbourne who is an expert in tooth-coloured crowns, then look no further than Dr Kasen Somana and the team at Signature Dentistry.

Contact us today or fill out our online appointment form.