Dental crowns are extremely common dental restorations. Used to protect weakened natural teeth, dental crowns fit securely over your existing tooth to prevent tooth loss. A dental crown requires two appointments, but the treatment is complete within a few weeks. Read on to learn more about the dental crown procedure, including how long you should expect to be at the dentist.
Dental Crowns: Why You May Need This Type of Dental Restoration
Dental crowns protect damaged teeth, preventing tooth loss or the need for an extraction. They are used to treat teeth that have suffered:
- Decay that is too large for a filling to treat
- Crack in the tooth
- Tooth fracture
- Chipped teeth
- Teeth that have undergone a root canal
Made of materials such as ceramic, porcelain-fused-metal, gold alloy, or other metal alloys, dental crowns will be custom-made to fit your mouth, and in the case of ceramic or porcelain, match the color of your other teeth.
Dental Crown Procedure: Your First Appointment
Your first appointment will take approximately one hour. You will have painless digital impressions taken of your mouth. Then, the affected tooth will be prepared for the crown. This involves shaping the tooth to fit the dental crown. Damaged areas of the tooth may be filed off. Then you’ll be fitted with a temporary crown to wear while waiting for your crown to arrive from the lab.
Dental Crown Procedure: Your Second Appointment
The digital impressions taken during your appointment will have been sent to a lab to make your dental crown. It typically takes a few weeks for the crown to be made. Once that crown arrives from the lab, your dental office will contact you to have it placed.
At this second appointment, the temporary crown will be removed. Next, any minor adjustments that need to be made to your dental crown will be performed during this appointment. Once it fits perfectly, it will be bonded to the tooth. This appointment will generally take less than an hour. You’ll leave with a new crown safeguarding your natural tooth beneath it.
Your dental crown can be expected to last for many years as long as you practice good oral hygiene habits (brushing twice daily and daily flossing) and continue with regular dental cleanings and exams every six months.
Is a Dental Crown Really Necessary?
Dental crowns are necessary, if you want to keep the affected tooth. Decay that is not treated will continue to weaken the tooth, may spread to nearby teeth, and eventually reach the pulp (tooth interior). If this happens, you’ll experience pain, and an infection may develop, requiring both a root canal and a crown.
A tooth that has a crack must be crowned or you are at risk of bacteria getting inside the tooth. This painful condition will require a root canal or an extraction. Likewise, fractured teeth or teeth with large chips should be crowned to prevent the tooth from breaking in half or cracking beneath the gum line.
Book a Priority Appointment for a Toothache in New Brunswick
A toothache is often the first and only symptom of a problem such as a large cavity, or an infection in the pulp. If you experience a toothache, it is important to be evaluated by a dentist ASAP for treatment. At Bellissimi Dental, we prioritize patients experiencing pain. Call our office at 330-741-3334, and notify our staff of your pain. We will get you in for treatment quickly. For all other appointments, such as regular cleaning and exams, feel free to send us a message to schedule.