How To Prepare For A Dental Crown

There are lots of different reasons why you might require a dental crown, such as a covering a decayed tooth, covering a discoloured or misshapen tooth or protecting a tooth that has undergone a root canal.

Procedure

The dental crown procedure will usually take place over two appointments.

First appointment: Your dentist will examine the tooth and prepare it for a crown. They will take x-rays of the tooth and surrounding bone and file down the tooth. The amount of filing required will depend on the type of crown used, metal crowns do not need as much tooth removed as porcelain crowns.

Once the tooth is filed, your dentist will take an impression of the tooth that requires the crown. They will also take an impression of the teeth above the crown so that it can fit properly with your bite. The impressions are sent to the lab to create the crown which will take about two to three weeks. Your dentist will give you a temporary crown to protect your tooth.

Second appointment: Now your dentist will fit your new crown. They will check the colour, shape, and the fit of your new crown. They will permanently cement it in place.

Same Day Crowns

Some dentists may offer a same day crown placement using computer-aided-design (CAD). In this case a scanning device takes images of your tooth and the software uses the images to make a 3D image of your mouth. The software then sends the model to a machine that carves the crown out of ceramic in about 15 minutes.

Recovery Process

The recovery time should be relatively short as you will mostly be dealing with irritation and inflammation. Your dentist will provide you with after care tips. Your bite might feel slightly strange to begin with as your tooth may not be exactly the same shape as it was. Your bite should return to normal after a few days.

How To Care For Your Crown

Once your crown has been placed, the best way to look after it is to maintain great oral care and treat your crown as if it were a natural tooth. The tooth beneath the crown still needs to be protected against gum disease and decay. Brush your teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and use either interdental brushes or floss to clean in between your teeth. Crowns can be susceptible to cracking and wear and tear, depending on the material they are made from. Avoid biting hard surfaces.

If you think that a crown may be suitable for you, please call us on 01723 670500 for more information.