Restore your tooth structure and natural smile with Dental crowns
If you have a tooth that is damaged, fractured, heavily filled, or significantly discoloured, a dental crown can provide the ideal solution to restore its strength, function, and aesthetic appearance.
Our expert team, led by our Principal Dentist, specialises in fitting high-quality dental crowns, focusing on achieving a seamless, natural-looking result that protects your remaining tooth structure for years to come.
What are Dental Crowns?
- A dental crown, often referred to as a “cap,” is a custom-made restoration that is precisely shaped to cover the entire visible surface of a damaged or weakened tooth, right down to the gum line.
- Crowns are designed to fully encase the remaining tooth structure, restoring the original shape, size, and strength of the tooth, while also dramatically improving its appearance.
- We utilise advanced materials, including E.max crowns, to ensure exceptional results. E.max is a type of all-ceramic (lithium disilicate) crown renowned for its outstanding strength and, most importantly, its superior aesthetics. Because E.max is metal-free and highly translucent, it mimics the light-reflecting properties of natural tooth enamel, making it the ideal choice for front teeth and anyone seeking the most natural-looking restoration.
Benefits of Dental Crowns
Choosing a dental crown for a compromised tooth offers a multitude of advantages:
- Strength and Protection: A crown encapsulates and protects a weak or broken tooth from further fracture or damage.
- Restoration of Function: They restore a tooth’s ability to function normally, allowing you to chew and speak comfortably.
- Highly Aesthetic Results: Modern materials like E.max provide an incredible natural appearance that blends seamlessly with your existing teeth.
- Long-lasting Solution: With proper care, dental crowns are a durable, long-term solution that can last for 10 to 15 years, or even longer.
- Versatile Treatment: Crowns can address both structural damage (decay, fracture, root canal treatment) and cosmetic concerns (severe discolouration, misshapen teeth).
- Improvement of Overall Smile: By addressing unsightly or damaged teeth, crowns can significantly enhance the symmetry and overall aesthetics of your smile.
Who is a good candidate for Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are a highly effective treatment for individuals with structural or aesthetic concerns that are too significant for smaller restorations like fillings or bonding. You might be an ideal candidate if you have:
- Heavily Filled Teeth: Teeth with large, old fillings that have weakened the remaining natural tooth structure.
- Fractured or Broken Teeth: Teeth that have suffered significant breakage from trauma or decay.
- Teeth After Root Canal: Teeth that have undergone root canal treatment, as they often become brittle and require a crown for protection.
- Severe Discolouration or Misshapen Teeth: Teeth where severe intrinsic staining or developmental issues cannot be solved by whitening or bonding.
- Tooth wear: Teeth severely worn down due to grinding (bruxism) or erosion.
- Need for a Bridge: Teeth that require restoration to support a dental bridge or cap a dental implant.
During your initial consultation, our experienced dentists will conduct a thorough examination of your oral health, including X-rays, and discuss your goals to determine if a dental crown, and specifically a material like E.max, is the most suitable treatment for your needs.
The Dental Crown procedure at The Dental Cafe
We are committed to making your dental crown experience comfortable and stress-free. The process typically involves two appointments:
- Comprehensive Consultation: We begin with a detailed discussion of your desired outcome and assess the condition of the tooth.
- Tooth Preparation: The tooth receiving the crown is gently reshaped (filed down) to create a suitable base for the crown to fit over. Local anaesthetic is used to ensure this process is completely pain-free.
- Digital Impressions: We take precise digital scans or traditional impressions of your prepped tooth and surrounding teeth. This data is sent to a specialised dental laboratory where your custom E.max or other crown will be meticulously crafted.
- Temporary Crown: A temporary crown is placed over the prepared tooth to protect it and maintain your smile while your permanent crown is being made.
- Removal of Temporary Crown: The temporary crown is carefully removed, and the prepared tooth is thoroughly cleaned.
- Trial Fitting: Your new custom-made crown is placed over the tooth for a trial fit. We check the colour, shape, fit, and bite to ensure it is perfect.
- Permanent Bonding: Once you and the dentist are fully satisfied, the crown is permanently bonded or cemented to your tooth, restoring its structure and completing your treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly are E.max crowns and why are they recommended? +
E.max crowns are a type of all-ceramic crown made from a strong, translucent material called lithium disilicate glass-ceramic. We frequently recommend them for their superb balance of strength and aesthetics. Unlike traditional Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) crowns, E.max contains no metal, meaning there is no dark line at the gum margin, and the material allows light to pass through just like a natural tooth, providing a highly natural and vibrant appearance.
How long do dental crowns last? +
With good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups, a dental crown can last between 10 to 15 years, and often much longer. Longevity depends on factors such as the crown material, how well you look after it, and avoiding habits like biting on ice or hard objects.
Is the dental crown procedure painful? +
The procedure is not painful. We use a local anaesthetic to completely numb the tooth and surrounding area during the preparation stage, so you will only feel some pressure. You may experience some mild sensitivity or discomfort once the anaesthetic wears off, but this is temporary and easily managed with over-the-counter pain relief.
How do I care for my new dental crown? +
Caring for a crown is the same as caring for your natural teeth. Maintain an excellent daily oral hygiene routine, including brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing (or using interdental brushes) daily. You should also attend your regular check-ups and hygiene appointments at The Dental Cafe, as we can monitor the crown and the gum tissue surrounding it.
How much does a dental crown cost in Liverpool? +
The cost of a dental crown varies depending on the specific material chosen (e.g., E.max, Zirconia, Gold), the complexity of the case, and the need for any pre-treatment procedures. We offer transparent pricing and invite you to book a consultation at The Dental Cafe to receive a personalised treatment plan and quotation.
