A dental crown is a very versatile type of dental restoration used in both cosmetic and restorative dentistry. A crown is used to replicate the part of a natural tooth which lies above the gum line and can be used to encase a damaged, decayed or heavily filled tooth to give strength, function and better appearance as well as being used to restore a missing tooth when a dental implant is placed.
On a true like for like basis, the type of crown that you will receive in Hungary will be comparable to that of private care here in the UK and Ireland. A standard crown in Hungary supplied by an experienced and skilled dentist will cost around the £200 mark against £800 to £1000 which a private dentist will charge in the UK and Ireland. The quality of crowns supplied by NHS dentists cannot generally be compared with what you would receive if you pay privately.
When crowns are joined together to give a multiple unit restoration then this is called a bridge.
Hundreds of thousands of crowns are produced every year by Hungarian dentists and dental technicians for the British and Irish dental patient who travel to Hungary for low cost treatment. There are many variants of crowns available worldwide with only certain types reserved for the British and Irish patients who have high expectations.To get the perfect crown the dentist must have a good relationship with a professional dental technician with the aim to produce high quality which is the right size, shape, colour giving overall best appearance as well as function.
Temporary Crowns
Most patients will come across the temporary crown at some point. If you are going to Hungary just for crowns or bridgework then you will probably have some very short term temporary teeth made as there will only be four to five days between initial preparation and final fitting. Soon after preparation has been done the dentist or dental technician will make some very short term temporary teeth for you so that you can eat food more comfortably and feel good about your appearance.
If you are having dental implants and then having to wait 3 to 6 months before you get your new permanent crowns then the dental technician will make some very high quality temporary crowns designed to look good and function well without breaking. They take a little longer to make and cost a bit more but they are worth it and will serve you well until your permanent crowns are made.
Permanent Crowns
British and Irish dental patients travelling to Hungary should expect only the highest quality crowns.
Usually crowns made for the British and Irish dental traveller will be a full jacket porcelain crown fused to a metal or ceramic structure. This means that the front, sides and back of the crown will be porcelain with no black lines around the gum lines. Expect the crown to be the right size, shape, colour professionally made to look natural with excellent longevity.
Materials
Although there are many different materials widely used when dental technicians make crowns we will focus on the two main types:
Porcelain fused to metal – This is the most widely used material worldwide. A porcelain crown is manufactured and fused to metal before being cemented onto your natural tooth or dental implant. If the porcelain is not fused to a metal structure then the porcelain will be too brittle and will break. The metal structure inside the crown gives the crown strength. There are several different materials which can be used as the structure of the crown including nickel free metal, titanium, gold and gold alloys.
Porcelain fused to zirconium – This is a relatively new material whereby the porcelain is fused to zirconium rather than metal. The advantage of zirconium is that it is metal free and white in colour as opposed to the colour of metal. Zirconium is more expensive but is used when the best possible finish is required.
There should not be any difference between the quality of both materials and the dentist should still do all of the preparation and fitting to the same high standard. The technician will still use the best quality of materials and manufacture to a high standard.
Most patients choose porcelain fused to metal when choosing crowns because they look incredibly good and suit all budgets. Zirconium is popular but the type of patient to choose this material is willing to pay quite a bit more for a small aesthetic advantage.
