All 337 Clinics that provide Crown in Northern Ireland

Crowns tend to be quite expensive and therefore individuals are increasingly looking to other destinations to cut down the cost.  In addition there have been several advances in the field with newer porcelain crowns offering a better cosmetic appearance and only requiring a single visit.

What are Dental Crowns?

A crown is a cap that typically completely covers a single tooth and adds strength, stability and durability to an otherwise weakened structure. It can be made out of gold or ceramic and is typically fitted by a dentist in one or two visits. Crowns tend to be expensive with US pricing ranging from $600 to $3,000 dollar and are therefore one of the more common treatment sought by dental tourists.

You might need a crown if:

• If a lot of your tooth has decayed and there isn't enough tooth structure to fill in the same way that small cavities are filled
• A large section of your tooth has fractured off
• You have a large cavity and are opting for the addition protection that a crown offers against fracture and decay
• You have implants and are opting for crowns to be fitted
• If you have had a root canal on one of your rear teeth then a crown is typically required to strengthen the tooth
• If you want a better smile but veneers/implants are not appropriate
• Grinding or acid erosion has significantly reduced the tooth

What is the procedure like?

The tooth in question needs to be prepared by stripping off the entire top covering (enamel) of the tooth where the crown is to be fitted. It should be noted that this process is not reversible.  From this point on, the procedure differs greatly according to the type of crown being fitted. In the instance of gold crowns, a mould is taken and sent to a laboratory so that the crown can be manufactured. This can take anywhere from days to weeks, so a second visit is required for the crown to be fitted. Your dentist should supply you with a temporary crown or ‘flipper’ for you to wear in the interim. Certain ceramic crowns can be made in the dentist’s surgery and fitted in a single visit.

What different types exist?

Full gold crowns – Although called full gold these are normally an alloy of various metals. Check with your dentist that the ‘gold’ they are using contains at least 75% noble metal. Gold crowns are typically made by taking a wax impression and having the crown fabricated in a laboratory and then fitted in a latter visit.  As gold crowns require at least two visits to a dentist, many dental tourist opt for ceramic varieties, however it should be noted that many dentist still regard full gold crowns as being superior in the long terms.

Porcelain fused to Metal Crowns – In order to achieve a more natural look on visible teeth, porcelain can be fused to metal crowns.  This is a different process to full gold crowns as more of the original tooth needs to be removed in order to make space for the porcelain. Although gold can be used normally, a different metal alloy is used because of the intense heat of the fabrication process. The latest and most expensive material used is circoniumoxide.  

Porcelain Crowns - There are two main types of porcelain crown. The traditional variety is felspathic and is created in a lab making porcelain. The newer type is created by a single ingot and can be created by specialised equipment in the dentist’s surgery.  This makes porcelain crowns particularly attractive to the dental tourist as they can be completed in a single visit.

Procera (Alumina or zironia) – Procera AllCeram is a brand name for natural looking crown created by covering a alumina or zironia core with ceramic.  The crown is created by computer- aided manufacturing rather than the traditional casting process. Studies by Procera have shown a very high success rate over 5 and 10 years.

CERAC – Is the current leader in computer aided crown manufacture in the US. The crown is created out of ceramic and rather than being fabricated in a laboratory, it is build in specialized (and expensive) equipment in the Dentist’s surgery. This can result in crowns being fitted in a single visit.

What affects the price?

There are a huge number of factors that determine the price. It is important when you are comparing prices, you are comparing like with like.  Look for details like:

• The type of crown you are getting
• Is a pin required to anchor the crown?
• Is root canal work required?
• Additional work that may need to be performed

Price Comparison

Price lists should always be viewed with caution as many factors can increase or decrease the resulting price. The follow table gives some indicative costs for crowns across the world:

A guide to dentistry in Northern Ireland

The UK has some of the world's longest established medical and dental organizations. It has played a central role in shaping the ethical and scientific face of modern dental practice. The practice and structure of the profession in Britain serve as a model for many countries' dental profession.

Benefits of Northern Irish Dentistry

Our best dental destinations in Northern Ireland are: Belfast, Lisburn and Newry.

Regular checkups are a vital part of good oral healthcare and a local dentist is by far the best choice. A trusting relationship with your local dentist has emmense benefits: Dental emergencies can be dealt with by a healthcare professional who knows your medical history inside out. Even for more expensive treatments the value of this close working knowledge can far outweigh price considerations, ensuring an ongoing beneficial, oral regimen.

Dentists in the UK - Qualifications

A 5 year dental curriculum can be followed at any of UK's 13 dental schools. Successful graduates receive a Bachelor of Dental Science degree (BDS).

There are a large number of specialties that can be followed following standard dental practice including: Orthodontics, Prosthodontics, Periodontics, and Endodontics.

Dentists in the UK - Patient Rights

Organizations

The General Dental Council regulates the dental profession in the UK. It keeps an up-to-date register of dental professionals: dentists, dental nurses, clinical dental technicians, dental hygienists, dental technicians, dental therapists, and orthodontic therapists.

The British Dental Association is the primary representative organization for dentists in the UK.

Dental Ethics

The General Dental Council publishes ethical guidelines for the profession. These cover a dentists duty to continually update their skills, promote dental health, their duty to the profession and their patients as well as the proper manner in which to advertise their services and how to charge for treatment. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in censure, suspension or removal of the right to practice.

Continuing education

Mandatory, continuing education was introduced in 2001. 250 hours of training and seminars must be completed every 5 years to maintain the right to practice dentistry in the UK.

Complaints

There is a comprehensive system for dealing with complaints. The Dental Complaints Service (DCS) is the primary mechanism for patient complaints. Questions about a particular dentist's fitness to practice may be handled by the Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) and judged against the Fitness to Practise Procedures (FTP). These are all under the auspices of the General Dental Council.

Data Protection

Resources

General Dental Council
37 Wimpole Street,
London,
W1G 8DQ

Tel: +44 (0)84 5222 4141
Fax: +44 (0)20 7224 3294
Email: ces@gdc-uk.org
Web: www.gdc-uk.org

Ethical Guidelines

Ethical guidelines of the GDC

British Dental Association
Web: www.bda.org

The Information Commissioner's Office
Web: www.ico.gov.uk

Dental Practice Board for England and Wales: http://www.dpb.nhs.uk

NHS dentist advice guide: www.adviceguide.org.uk/h_nhs_dental_treatment.pdf

Postgraduate and Specialty training: www.rcseng.ac.uk/ (Maintained by the Royal College of Surgeons)

Healthcare Commission: www.healthcarecommission.org.uk

World Dental Federation on the UK (including a list of all UK dental schools): www.fdiworldental.org/

Association of Dental Implantology: www.adi.org.uk

The biggest choice of crown clinics in Northern Ireland with Prices, Patient Reviews, Maps. Everything you need to find the best crown for you in Northern Ireland.