Dentistry in New Zealand

Composite Crowns

Composite crowns can be quite aesthetic. Look at the BEFORE-AFTER pictures below.

In the pictures above, the tooth was restored with a composite crown mainly because of cost, a stainless steel post was placed into the tooth to support the crown and composite was applied incrementally onto the post and tooth. The composite placed was then cut down and polished into the shape of a tooth - this time to match the tooth next to it. This part is largely subjective with some dentists being very good at composite crowns.

Before crown - JPG 8Kb
The above case is a canine tooth that broke away, the patient chose the composite crown as a temporary option before a porcelain alternative was to be placed. As you can see in the picture below, composite crowns are quiet convincing aesthetically - although they pale in comparison with porcelain. After crown - JPG 9Kb

If the defect is very large or if a load bearing surface is to be restored, a composite will wear down too quickly and, ideally, in these cases, a porcelain crown may be indicated. However, composite crowns provide a good "temporary" alternative to porcelain crowns for the short term. They will eventually wear down or break and you should expect to have your composite crowns replaced or "upgraded" to a porcelain or gold crown.

Can I Have a Composite Crown?

Not every case is a suitable for a composite crown. The crown should be placed in a clean mouth, and the patient must show the ability to maintain good oral hygiene. Occasionally, if the margins are below the gum line, a composite crown will not do as cleaning will be difficult and the risk of failure because of decay too high. Your dentist will decided if you are a suitable candidate for a composite crown. The ideal case would be a situation where a crown is to be placed replacing a front tooth on a patient with exemplatory oral hygiene and who attends regular dental examinations.

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