If you are due for a dental crown procedure in the near future you are going to want to know what to expect. Dental crowns are a routine dental procedure that thousands of Americans get every day.
Here is everything you need to know before, during the procedure.
The First Visit: Preparing the Tooth
Getting a dental crown requires two visits to the dentist. The first is to examine and prepare the tooth. The second is when your dentist will place the permanent crown.
At the first visit, your dentist will likely take some x-rays to examine the roots of the tooth and the surrounding bone. For the crown to be successful the tooth has to be otherwise healthy.
Teeth with extensive decay, infection, or other damage will need other procedures such as a root canal before the crown is placed on the tooth.
Next, your dentist will need to make the crown. Your dentist will anesthetize your tooth and gums. This will be the most dental crown procedure pain, your teeth will be numb afterward. The tooth receiving the crown will be reshaped to make a good fit for the crown.
In cases with extensive decay or damage and a large area of the tooth missing your dentist will use fillings to build up the tooth to support the crown.
Next, your dentist will make an impression of the tooth receiving the crown and the teeth above, below, and next to the tooth.
This dental crown fitting procedure ensures the crown will not impact your bite. Your dentist will use a paste or putty, but some dentists will do this with a digital scanner.
Making Your Crown
The impression will be sent to a dental lab where the crown will be made. This usually takes two to three weeks. Your dentist will also select the right shade to ensure your crown matches your other teeth.
At the end of the first visit, your dentist will insert a temporary crown to protect the tooth whilst you wait for the permanent crown.
The Second Visit: Receiving the Dental Crown.
When your dentist has your crown you will go in to have it applied to your tooth. Your dentist will remove the temporary crown and ensure the tooth is healthy and the fit is right.
If everything is good, you will receive a local anesthetic to numb your tooth and gums during the procedure. Like the first visit, this will be the most painful part of the procedure.
The second visit is more straight forward than the first. All your dentist will do is fit and secure the crown in place. The permanent crown will be cemented in place and you won’t be able to remove it without the help of your dentist.
What You Need to Know About Your Dental Crown Procedure
A dental crown procedure is common for many Americans today. And whilst going to the dentist might seem like a nightmare this procedure isn’t as bad as you might think. The worst part is often the anesthetic injection.
When you get a dental crown you will need to visit your dentist twice, first to prepare the tooth and crown, then to insert it. Find out more about dental crowns here.