If you suffer damage to one or more teeth, your dentist can help you restore the appearance, structure, and function of your tooth with a dental crown. The ceramic cap fits over the affected tooth and seals into place for long-lasting restoration and protection from further harm.
Your dentist can explain what you can expect during this treatment when you schedule a dental consultation. However, you can feel more confident about this procedure when you know what will occur ahead of your appointment. Discover the steps your dentist will take during your dental crown treatment when you read on.
Oral Health Exam
Before you begin treatment with a dental crown, your dentist will need to evaluate the affected tooth. They will determine the extent of damage to the tooth and treat any underlying issues such as tooth decay.
They also want to confirm that a crown is the best option to restore your dental structure. The dentist will consider your existing dental scenario, your medical history, and your oral health goals when making this determination.
Enamel Preparation
When you and your dentist agree to pursue dental crown treatment, and your oral health is in good shape, your dentist can begin by preparing the enamel for this procedure. The dentist will give you a local anesthetic so that you do not feel discomfort during this process. It will not hurt.
Once you are numb, your dentist will remove a minute amount of the tooth enamel to make room for the ceramic cap that will fit over your tooth. Because enamel does regrow, dentists deem dental crowns to be a permanent dental solution.
Tooth Impressions
After your tooth is ready, your dentist will take impressions of the tooth that will be used to make a custom dental crown. The dentist can do this using a physical mold or with digital imaging technology.
These impressions allow the dentist to make a crown that suits the unique size, shape, and color of your smile. Then you can look forward to a fixture that looks beautiful as well as natural with your other teeth. Plus, the customized size ensures that the crown will fit as securely as possible too.
Dental Crown Placement
You will receive a temporary crown over the tooth while the dentist builds a custom permanent crown, which can take a few weeks. Once it is ready, you will return to your dentist’s office to receive this permanent crown. The temporary one will come off of the tooth easily.
Then the dentist uses dental cement to seal the permanent crown into place over the tooth. They check your bite before you leave the office as well to ensure the new fixture will not interfere with your oral functions.
The crown can remain in place for fifteen years when you take care of it properly. If the crown does not seem to fit correctly or suffers damage, make sure you call your dentist right away to repair or replace it.