Sometimes teeth have been so badly damaged by decay or wear that cosmetic fillings are no longer a viable option. Under these circumstances the tooth can be saved and protected by a crown or a cap.

Crowns can also be used on either side of a gap so that a bridge can be constructed to replace one or more missing teeth without the use of implants.

Occasionally, patients who have crowded or malaligned teeth and who are unable to commit themselves to orthodontic treatment can have their problems solved by the use of crowns or veneers which can be used to disguise the appearance of the teeth and provide a beautiful smile for life.

Many of our patients come to see us very unhappy at the appearance of crowns or bridges, fitted by another dentist. Their crown are often of good quality but have failed to please the patient because of simple error - lack of communication between the various people involve in their construction. At Sahaj Dental Clinic we pride ourselves in our team approach. We believe that constructing a crown is a combination of technical expertise and artistic flair. From the outset we involve our highly skilled technician in the planning and designing. We encourage as much communication as possible among the patient, technician and dentist to ensure that the final result is exactly as expected.

Often we begin by constructing models of the finished restorations so that the patient is able to see what his or her mouth would look like before any work is started.

We actively encourage friends or family to attend with the patient so that they can contribute to the final result. Thus patients are able to feel relaxed with the knowledge that we will achieve their desired appearance.

Naturally, if the desired appearance is not achievable (which only happen occasionally) we would explain the problems and suggest alternatives.

How Tooth is Crowned or Capped

	Front view of the tooth to be crowned.
	One half of the tooth has been prepared so you can see approximately how much tooth structure has been reduced.
	The tooth has now been fully prepared to make room for the porcelain (and most times an underlying layer of metal for support). Then two sides of the tooth are prepared with only a slight taper to help hold the crown in place.
	The new crown is being put into place. Notice the way it will fit up under the gum tissue to hide the margin ( junction ) between tooth and crown.
	The final crown is shaped as much as possible like the natural tooth to look and feel good. It is attached with special dental cements.