Episode: Let's Talk Crowns

🎙️ Bite-Sized Dental | Episode: Let's Talk Crowns 
Hosts: Dr Bing Lee & Glenn Hartas

Transcript

Dr Bing:
Hi, how are you going, Glenn?

Glenn Hartas:
Not too bad at all. Let's talk about crowns for a moment. If someone has been told they need a crown, what exactly is a crown?

Dr Bing:
A crown, Glenn, is actually a custom-made cap that sits over an existing tooth. We usually recommend it to patients when a tooth has been damaged, cracked, chipped, or weakened due to previous treatment and needs protection. Think of it as a helmet for the tooth.

Sometimes, we do see teeth that aren’t shielded enough and end up splitting into two pieces. Unfortunately, when that happens, we often can’t do much to save the tooth, and it has to be extracted. That’s why we typically recommend patients crown teeth at risk of splitting — to shield them and help avoid that unfortunate scenario.

Glenn Hartas:
Okay. How do we know if we have a cracked tooth?

Dr Bing:
At Innova Dental (previously known as Canning Street Dental), we take HD photographs because we believe it’s important for patients to see what we see. Our dentists will go through the photos with you, so you can clearly understand the condition of your teeth. Of course, we don’t recommend a crown for every crack — we take the time to assess each tooth and work out a personalised plan, based on factors like the angle and depth of the crack.

Glenn Hartas:
Okay. And what are crowns made of, and how do they support the tooth?

Dr Bing:
Crowns can be made from a variety of materials. Gold crowns have been popular for a long time now. However, with the increasing price of gold and its colour, it’s becoming less common. That said, there have been many pros in ceramic materials. These days, we can offer ceramic crowns that are metal-free, strong, and look good to.

Glenn Hartas:
Okay. So how long should a crown last?

Dr Bing:
Typically, I tell my patients I’d be really surprised if it didn’t last at least ten years. We've seen crowns that were placed 30 or 40 years ago and are still going good. As with many things, how long it lasts really depends on how well it’s looked after. We usually recommend avoiding hard foods like ice. Also, decay can still form under a crown if oral hygiene isn’t maintained, so it’s very important for patients to brush, floss, and keep up with regular dental visits.

Glenn Hartas:
Okay. I’ve heard you’ve introduced one-visit crown technology at your practice. Can you tell us about that?

Dr Bing:
Yes, Glenn, we have — and actually we started this in Launceston, which we're proud of.
If your dentist has told you that you need a crown and you're worried about needing multiple appointments, this technology offers ample convenience for both patients and dentists.

You can now get firm, precise, well-crafted porcelain crowns made in a single visit.
Using a small camera, we take a digital scan of the teeth instead of using messy impression material, and you’ll even be able to watch your crown being made — patients often love to witness the process!
This technology gives us control over all aspects of treatment and allows us to deliver the optimal care.

Our single-visit crowns help you get on with what matters in life, without the hassle of multiple long appointments or temporary fillings typically needed for traditional crowns.
As I mentioned, as a practice we brought this technology to Launceston, and we’re proud that it has changed so many smiles.