Strong, natural-looking all-ceramic crowns for front and back teeth at Highfield Dental Clinic, Edgbaston.
When a crown sits in your smile line, appearance matters as much as strength. Our team plans each crown around your own tooth colour, shape and bite.
An Emax crown is an all-ceramic crown made from lithium disilicate, a strong glass-ceramic material. IPS e.max is a brand of ceramic made by Ivoclar and is widely used in UK dentistry. The crown covers the whole visible part of a tooth, restoring its shape, strength and appearance.
Because the material contains no metal, light passes through it in a way that closely resembles natural enamel. This makes Emax a popular choice for front teeth and for patients who want a crown with no dark line at the gum.
Looking to restore a damaged or heavily filled tooth in Birmingham? Our experienced team will explain which crown material suits your tooth best.
Most crowns are completed over two appointments, or in one visit where same-day treatment is suitable. Treatment usually involves:
If your crown is made in a laboratory, we will fit a temporary crown in the meantime so the tooth stays protected and comfortable.
With good oral hygiene and regular check-ups, crowns can last many years, though lifespan varies from person to person and cannot be guaranteed. Decay and gum disease can still affect the natural tooth beneath, so brushing twice daily and cleaning between your teeth remains important.
If you grind or clench your teeth, tell your dentist. Grinding places heavy loads on ceramic and we may recommend a protective night splint, or suggest a different material for back teeth where the forces are greatest. We will always explain the alternatives, along with their benefits, risks and costs.
They can be, depending on the tooth and your bite. For heavily loaded back teeth or patients who grind, zirconia or gold may be more hard-wearing. Your dentist will recommend the most appropriate material.
We shade-match the crown against your natural teeth, usually in daylight, and can send photographs to the laboratory for closer matching. If you are considering whitening, do this before the crown is made, as crowns do not lighten.
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic, so preparation is comfortable. Mild sensitivity for a short time afterwards is common and usually settles.
Many crowns last a decade or more with good care. Lifespan depends on the tooth, your bite, your oral hygiene and habits such as grinding. We will check the crown at every routine visit.
In suitable cases, yes. Our CAD/CAM technology allows some ceramic crowns to be designed, milled and fitted the same day. Your dentist will advise whether your tooth is suitable.
Emax crowns contain no metal, so they do not create the grey line that can appear at the gum edge with older porcelain-bonded-to-metal crowns.
