Perhaps your dentist has suggested that you need a crown and having gone home and considered the cost implications, you’re unsure about going ahead with treatment. As a busy dentist we regularly use crowns in Bournemouth patients to restore badly failing teeth, so we though we’d take this opportunity to discuss the whys and wherefores of crowns to shed a little more clarity on the treatment.

Reasons why a dental crown may be necessary

• To reinforce a weak tooth which is badly decayed or fractured
• To replace a previous large filling which is covering half of the width of the tooth or more
• Following root canal treatment which has left the tooth hollow and susceptible to cracking
• Fractures inside the tooth which are causing pain when you bite and chew
• Excessive wear especially if you grind your teeth
• To improve the appearance of an unsightly tooth
• In conjunction with other treatments such as dental implants where a crown is placed on top of a dental implant to replace a missing tooth. Alternatively missing teeth may be replaced with dental bridges that are composed of crowns fitted on the teeth either side of the gap and attached to false teeth in the middle.

Crowns in Bournemouth – your alternatives

If you’re having dental implants or a bridge fitted then there is no alternative to crowns. Quite simply they’re an essential part of both treatments. If, on the other hand, the crown is to protect a weakened tooth, then you have the following options:

• Do absolutely nothing – If your tooth has been held together by a large filling and a small piece of tooth for several years then you may want to adopt the old adage of “if it ain’t broke then don’t fix it.” Sometimes removing a filling can create more problems than are solved and lead to other problems down the line such as needing a root canal and a crown. This could eventually happen anyway but that’s a chance you take.

• An inlay or onlay – If the tooth is not quite at the point where it needs a crown but too badly damaged for a filling, then an inlay or onlay could be an option. This requires less preparation than for a crown and allows you to retain more of the tooth structure. An impression of the prepared tooth is taken and sent to the laboratory for a custom inlay or onlay to be made. Tooth coloured, it’s cemented into place and gives a seamless and natural appearance.

• Extraction – If the long term prognosis for the tooth is not good, then you may decide to opt for a dental implant.

As you can see there are numerous reasons for crowns in Bournemouth and 9 times out of 10, if your dentist says you need a crown, then he’s right. If you feel you need a second opinion, then why not get in touch with Queens Park Dental by calling 01202 303322 or contact us via our website at www.queensparkdental.co.uk. We use the latest in technology and aim to meet your dental needs, including dental emergencies, now as well as in the future and together we can discuss your best options. We’re a Bournemouth dentist that really cares, so call us today.