What is a dental crown?
A crown, often called a tooth cap in Calicut, covers the whole visible part of a tooth down to the gum line. It restores the tooth’s shape and lets you chew on it with confidence again. Unlike a filling, which repairs a hole inside the tooth, a crown wraps around it and holds it together. That is why crowns are used when too little healthy tooth remains for a filling to last, when a tooth has cracked, or after root canal treatment.
A small amount of the outer tooth is shaped to make room for the crown, so it sits in line with your other teeth. The crown is then bonded in place and is not removed for cleaning.
Zirconia crown or ceramic crown?
We use two metal-free materials, and the choice depends on the tooth.
- Zirconia is a very strong, tooth-coloured material. A zirconia crown in Kozhikode is often our first suggestion for molars and premolars, for teeth under heavy chewing load, and for people who clench or grind.
- Ceramic (all-porcelain) crowns are slightly more translucent, so they mimic the way natural enamel reflects light. They often suit front teeth, where appearance matters most.
Both are matched to the shade of your neighbouring teeth. We explain the trade-offs for your tooth before you decide, and we will tell you if a smaller restoration such as a tooth-coloured filling would do the job instead.
Why we scan instead of taking putty impressions
We use 3D digital intraoral scanning to record the prepared tooth. A small wand captures the tooth and its neighbours in a few minutes, so there is no tray of putty to hold in your mouth. The scan gives the crown a precise fit to your tooth and bite, and you can see the 3D image on screen while we explain the plan.
Crown and bridge treatment in Kozhikode
Crowns are often part of a larger plan. A crown and bridge can replace a missing tooth by anchoring a false tooth to crowns on the teeth either side of the gap. A crown can also sit on top of a dental implant, which avoids shaping the neighbouring teeth. After root canal treatment, most back teeth need a crown to stop them cracking. Where several teeth are worn or damaged, we plan the crowns together so your bite stays balanced.
Caring for your crown
A crown cannot decay, but the tooth underneath and the gum around it still can. Brush twice a day, clean between your teeth, and avoid using your teeth to open packets or bite very hard objects. If you grind at night, your dentist may suggest a night guard to protect both the crown and your natural teeth.
