Dental crowns can be the saving grace of a cracked, broken, stained, or otherwise damaged tooth. If you have suffered from extensive tooth decay, an acute injury resulting in a cracked tooth that cannot be repaired with dental bonding, or even undergone a root canal that changed the shape of your tooth, a dental crown might be just the solution to your dental problem. Also referred to as “caps,” dental crowns can effectively cover up and protect a damaged tooth while also restoring its previous shape and function.
Furthermore, these caps or crowns can be created and placed in as few as two visits to your dentist’s office, offering a permanent solution in very little time.
Dental Crown First Steps
Your first conversation with your dentist about a dental crown likely won’t be a scheduled as such – it’s more likely that you’ll find yourself in his or her chair due to an injured or decaying tooth that needs attention. If you dentist is unable to restore the tooth by composite bonding or the placing of a veneer, she or he will likely recommend a dental crown.
At this time, your dentist will then repair the damaged tooth to the best of their ability and take precise impressions of your oral cavity so that the dental crown created will fit as seamlessly as possible into your mouth. Once that has been done, your dentist will most likely place a temporary crown over the area to protect the repaired tooth from further damage while the dental crown is being made.
Before the crown is made, you will have to make a decision about the kind of materials used in the creation of your new crown; as your dentist will counsel you, the location is often an important factor to consider, as some of the options involving metals can show at the gumline over time. If you are placing a dental crown towards the front part of your mouth where it will be visible, you might consider opting for a fully ceramic crown. Your dentist will be able to guide you in this decision-making process, explaining the benefits, drawbacks, and price points of each option.
Placing the Permanent Crown
Placing the permanent crown is the final step to getting a dental crown, usually done during the second visit to your dentist’s office. At this point your dentist may use local anesthetic to make the procedure more comfortable for you. She or he will remove the temporary crown that was placed in the initial visit, do any final repairs or cleaning that need to be done before the crown can be placed more permanently, and then show you what the new crown will look like in your mouth. If any minor adjustments need to be made to the crown or its placement, these can be done at this time. Finally, when both you and your dentist are happy with the look of your new dental crown, it will be cemented permanently into place, making your damaged tooth like new again!