Your teeth can be damaged for various reasons, such as injuries, tooth decay, or natural wear and tear. Fortunately, Waterford crowns can restore your damaged teeth’ shape, size, strength, and function. Crowns are prosthetic devices that fit snugly over cracked, decayed, discolored, or slightly misaligned teeth. They can be made of different materials, including stainless steel, porcelain, ceramic, gold, or other alloys. Below is what the process of getting a crown involves.
What does the dental crown procedure entail?
Getting a dental crown typically requires two visits to your dentist – one for examining and preparing your tooth and the second for placing the permanent crown. During the first appointment, your dentist uses X-ray imaging to check the roots of the tooth receiving the crown and nearby bone. If you have severe tooth decay, your dentist may recommend a root canal treatment before the tooth can receive the crown.
If your tooth is healthy, the dentist proceeds to the next step, which is preparing your tooth for the crown. Before starting this process, you will receive local anesthesia in the tooth and gum tissue to minimize any discomfort throughout the procedure. Your dentist will shape the tooth along the sides and chewing surface to make room for the crown. The amount of enamel your provider files down depends on the type of crown you will use. For example, metal
Once the dentist has reshaped the tooth, they will make an impression of the tooth using a paste or a digital scanner; this depends on the facility. The dentist will also make impressions of the teeth above and below the tooth receiving the crown to ensure the crown doesn’t affect your bite. The dentist takes the impressions to a lab where your crown will be manufactured, usually in two to three weeks. If your crown is all-ceramic or all-porcelain, the dentist will select a shade that closely matches the color of your natural teeth. Your dentist will use a temporary crown to cover and protect the filed-down tooth as the crown is made.
During the second visit, your dentist will remove the temporary crown and place the permanent one. But before that, they will check the fit and color of the permanent crown. If the crown fits your tooth perfectly, the dentist will numb your tooth using a local anesthetic and permanently cement the new crown in place.
Problems that can develop with a dental crown
The newly crowned teeth can be sensitive after the procedure as the numbing medication wears off. You may experience sensitivity to cold and heat if the tooth still has a nerve in it. Brushing with toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth may help ease the discomfort. The crown is too high on the tooth if you experience pain or discomfort when you bite down. In this case, your dentist can easily fix the problem.
The crown can also become loose when the cement that holds the crown washes out. Besides making the crown loose, this gives bacteria entryway, putting you at risk of tooth decay. For this reason, you want to contact your dentist if your crown becomes loose. A dark line may also form at the gum line of your crowned tooth; this is usually unsightly.
If you are unhappy with your discolored, broken, or chipped teeth, consult your dentist at Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center to know if a dental crown is a good option.
