Crowns
Why are crowns used?
Crowns are an alternative to normal fillings, they provide a durable, full coverage restoration and cover/protect the entire tooth. Crowns can be used for various reasons. Some of these may include:
- restoring a decayed primary molar or anterior tooth
- covering a primary molar or an anterior tooth that has had pulp treatment (pulpotomy or pulpectomy)
- covering a tooth that is weak or affected with enamel hypoplasia or hypomineralisation
- when anterior (front) teeth have had trauma and are chipped or fractured
The crowns typically fall out with the rest of the tooth at the usual age when the primary tooth is due to fall out.
What are crowns?
Crowns are a durable “cap” or “jacket” that covers the entire tooth.
What are Stainless Steel Crowns (SSC)?
Stainless Steel Crowns (SSC) are ready-made strong metallic caps to repair primary or “baby” teeth and protect them from further damage. They are silver in colour and very durable. They are very safe, and unlike normal fillings, they cover the entire tooth and are rarely lost or damaged.
What are Zirconia Crowns (ZC)?
Zirconia Crowns (ZC) are ready-made ceramic caps to repair primary “baby” teeth and protect them from further damage. Zirconia crowns are a new option for restoring primary teeth. They are “all white”, metal-free and durable. They are strong, biocompatible and have excellent aesthetics as they look like natural teeth.
What are the main differences between SSC and ZC?
- SSC can be more easily contoured compared to ZC hence SSC are preferred if there has been space loss in between teeth due to extensive decay
- ZC cannot be adjusted or contoured and are therefore more difficult to insert since complex tooth preparation is required
- ZC are metal free and biocompatible
- SSC are mercury free and are made from the same metal as normal eating cutlery
- ZC are tooth coloured and hence more aesthetic and natural in appearance than SSC
- ZC are generally more expensive than SSC