Crowns
When a filling is too large for the tooth to support, you may require a crown (also called a cap). This can happen when decay has destroyed too much of the tooth structure, or after root canal treatment.
Crowns on the front teeth are sometimes done for cosmetic reasons, but if looking good is the intention, other more conservative options like porcelain/ceramic or composite resins, veneers/laminates or composite bonding should be considered first.
The different types of materials used for crowns have also evolved rapidly over the years. Crowns can be made of porcelain or metal or combinations of gold alloys and porcelain. Special types of reinforced porcelain can also be used. Each has its own pros and cons.
Conventional crowns are more opaque looking as they have to be reinforced with metal alloy under the crowns. These metal backings obstruct the natural transmission of light passing through the teeth hence making the crowns less natural. With the full porcelain/ceramic crowns, the transmission of light through the crowns are more natural as there are no metal to obstruct the light transmission hence are more natural looking.
Porcelain fused to metal crown | full ceramic crowns on upper front teeth |
Full ceramic crown |
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Singapore 259708 (Nearest MRT station: Newton)
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